The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol)(Wales) Act 2018 has been granted Royal Assent.
This paves the way for minimum unit pricing to come into force in summer 2019, following a consultation this autumn.
Policymakers in Wales hope the legislation will help tackle alcohol-related harm across the country, as excess consumption is estimated to lead to almost 55,00 alcohol-related hospital admissions a year.
This is turn costs the NHS in Wales more than £150 million a year.
The Welsh government is confident that minimum unit pricing will target and reduce the amount of alcohol being consumed by hazardous and harmful drinkers, while having minimal impacts on moderate drinkers.
Commenting on the new law, first minister Carwyn Jones said it takes a sensible and targeted approach to a “very real and evident problem” and forms part of the Welsh government’s wider efforts to improve and safeguard public health.
Health secretary Vaughan Gething added that he is delighted that legislation to tackle the availability of cheap and strong alcohol has now become law.
He said the new law offers an “opportunity for a step change” and gives policymakers a chance to “do more to address alcohol-related harms”, as well as save lives.