Ulster Unionist Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA has hit out at the Northern Ireland Executive's failure to pass Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol, describing it as a "profound missed opportunity" to address health inequalities and save lives.

The North Down MLA stated that the evidence supporting the measure is widely accepted by the public health community. He specifically criticised the DUP for using an Executive veto to block the progress of the legislation, noting that the party had previously supported the move.

Mr Chambers highlighted the human cost of the decision, suggesting that the lack of MUP would result in avoidable deaths and continued pressure on the Health and Social Care system. Alan Chambers MLA said: "The evidence in favour of Minimum Unit Pricing is overwhelming and widely accepted across the public health community. Yet despite this, the DUP has decided to single-handedly use its Executive veto to shamefully block progress being made. Let us be absolutely clear, this decision will have real-world consequences. Lives that could have been saved will be lost. Families that could have been spared grief will instead suffer. Our already overstretched health service will continue to bear a burden that could have been reduced."

He praised the efforts of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, who he said has shown leadership by repeatedly pushing for the measure based on data and clinical expertise. While acknowledging that MUP is not a "silver bullet," Mr Chambers argued it remains one of the most effective tools for reducing alcohol-related harm.

The UUP spokesperson pointed to the success of similar legislation in Scotland, where data suggests the policy is saving lives by targeting the heaviest drinkers. In Northern Ireland, hundreds of deaths and thousands of hospital admissions are attributed to alcohol annually.

Mr Chambers added: "We know that Minimum Unit Pricing works. We have seen the evidence from Scotland, where it is saving lives. We know it targets the heaviest drinkers and reduces harm where it is most acute. And we know it would have made a meaningful difference here. The DUP previously supported this measure - yet have now u-turned still without any explanation. Even if the next mandate does deliver Minimum Unit Pricing, the reality is that the cost of this latest missed opportunity will be measured not just in pounds, but in lives lost."