The significant increase in deaths and hospitalisations associated with illicit drug and alcohol use, alongside the persistent risk posed by tobacco, is a public health crisis that requires cross-sector and multi-agency collaboration and coordination. Illegally traded drugs, alcohol and tobacco have a damaging impact on population health and well-being that exceeds the risk already posed by their legal forms, making the detection and prevention of illicit trade in these goods vital.

Brexit has changed which EU criminal databases the UK can access and created opportunities for different border and import controls and trading relationships. This has the potential to affect the supply of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco in Wales as well as how the UK can work with the EU and others to detect and prevent illicit trade of these goods.

This webinar summarised the international systems the UK and Wales participated in to tackle illicit alcohol, tobacco, and drugs before Brexit. The panel explored how these have changed post-Brexit and what potential impact that may have on health and well-being in Wales.