The UK is among the most authoritarian countries in Europe for food and soft drink, tobacco, and alcohol regulation, according to the Institute of Economic Affairs and the European Policy Information Centre’s 2023 Nanny State Index.
An international league table of nanny state regulations finds that the UK government is becoming more meddlesome in people’s lifestyles.
The 2023 Nanny State Index, published today by the Institute of Economic Affairs and the European Policy Information Centre (EPICENTER), gives each European country a score out of 100 according to how it regulates private lifestyle choices.
The UK is ranked the worst country in Europe to be a smoker due to its high sin taxes, plain packaging and smoking ban.
Britain also has the second most restrictive food and drink policies, including a tax on sugary drinks and food marketing restrictions. Brits also face among the highest alcohol taxes in Europe, while Scotland has minimum alcohol pricing and bans on off-trade alcohol discounts.
Overall, Turkey takes the top spot in the ranking, followed by Norway and Lithuania in second and third, respectively. Germany gets the lowest score, making it the most liberal country in Europe, followed by Czechia and Italy.
Today’s ranking comes as the Conservative government and Labour opposition are planning further nanny state measures, including banning “buy 2, get 1 free” offers, extending restrictions on food advertising and expanding the sugar tax.
The author Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the IEA, predicts that “things will only get worse” with more nanny state regulations on the way.
The UK’s overall rating is significantly improved by a “common-sense approach” to e-cigarettes. Britain has among the least restrictive controls over e-cigarettes in Europe. Furthermore, the UK’s alcohol duties have fallen in real terms after being frozen for several years, although that is set to change with a large tax hike in August.
Despite rapid growth in regulations, there is little evidence that paternalistic policies are effective. The report finds no correlation between stricter drinking, eating, smoking, and vaping regulations and higher life expectancy:
Christopher Snowdon, the author of the report and Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said, “With the UK introducing some of the world’s most nannying policies on food, it’s no surprise to see it rising up the league table against stiff competition.
The UK scores poorly in every category except e-cigarettes, where it is the best in show. Scotland and Wales drag down the overall score by having minimum pricing for alcohol, and the UK as a whole is the worst place in Europe to be a smoker.
With alcohol taxes rising sharply this year and more food regulation to come, things will only get worse.”
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