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    • The Nanny state index

    The best and worst countries to eat, drink, smoke & vape in the EU

    The Index 2019

    least free less free freer freest
    Countries E-cigs (1/6) Tobacco (1/6) Food (1/3) Alcohol (1/3) TOTAL (out of 100) Change in position since 2017
    1 Finland 10.8 11.1 3.3 24.3 49.5 –––
    2 Lithuania 7.6 7.9 3 20.2 38.7
    3 Estonia 9.2 8.3 3.3 16.5 37.3
    4 UK 2.7 15.1 6.7 12.5 37
    5 Hungary 11.4 10.4 9.7 4.9 36.4
    6 Ireland 3 12.3 6.7 13.9 35.9
    7 Latvia 7.6 8.2 5 11.9 32.7 –––
    8 Sweden 4.3 5.8 1 21.2 32.3
    9 Slovenia 9.7 9.6 1.3 9.7 30.3
    10 France 4.5 11.7 4 9.9 30.1
    11 Greece 10.2 10.7 1.3 6.8 29
    12 Poland 7.2 7.9 0.7 9.7 25.5
    13 Cyprus 9.7 9 0 6.4 25.1
    14 Portugal 9.1 6.9 3 6 25
    15 Croatia 6.6 9.5 0 8.8 24.9
    16 Belgium 7.1 7.1 3 4.2 21.4
    17 Romania 5.8 8.9 0 5.5 20.2
    18 Bulgaria 3.5 9.4 2 4.6 19.5
    19 Malta 3.3 8.6 0 7.5 19.4
    20 Denmark 3.7 6.1 2.7 6.3 18.8
    21 Netherlands 2.7 8.1 0.7 7.1 18.6
    23= Italy 4.2 7.5 0.7 5.3 17.7
    23= Spain 4.7 8.1 0.3 4.6 17.7
    24 Luxembourg 6.9 5.4 0 5.3 17.6
    26= Austria 3.5 5.4 0.7 7.3 16.9
    26= Slovakia 5.3 6.8 0 4.8 16.9 –––
    27 Czech Republic 3.3 7.2 0 3.3 13.8
    28 Germany 2.7 5.5 0 3.5 11.7

    About

    The Nanny State Index (NSI) is a league table of the worst places in the European Union to eat, drink, smoke and vape. The initiative was launched in March 2016 and was a media hit right across Europe. It is masterminded and led by IEA’s Christopher Snowdon with partners from all over Europe.

    Enquiries: info@epicenternetwork.eu

    Download the pdf here.


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    Previous version: 2017

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    About the Editor

    Christopher Snowdon is the head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs. His research focuses on lifestyle freedoms, prohibition and policy-based evidence. He is a regular contributor to the Spectator Health blog and often appears on TV and radio discussing social and economic issues.

    Snowdon’s work encompasses a diverse range of topics including ‘sin taxes’, state funding of charities, happiness economics, ‘public health’ regulation, gambling and the black market. Recent publications include ‘Drinking, Fast and Slow’, ‘The Proof of the Pudding: Denmark’s Fat Tax Fiasco’, ‘The Crack Cocaine of Gambling?’, ‘The Wages of Sin Taxes’, ‘Drinking in the Shadow Economy’, ‘Sock Puppets: How the government lobbies itself and why’ and ‘Closing Time: Who’s killing the British pub?’. He is also the author of ‘Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism’ (2015), ‘The Art of Suppression’ (2011), ‘The Spirit Level Delusion’ (2010), ‘Velvet Glove, Iron Fist’ (2009) and Killjoys (2017).


    The Index 2019

    least free less free freer freest
    Countries E-cigs (1/6) Tobacco (1/6) Food (1/3) Alcohol (1/3) TOTAL (out of 100) Change in position since 2017
    1 Finland 10.8 11.1 3.3 24.3 49.5 –––
    2 Lithuania 7.6 7.9 3 20.2 38.7
    3 Estonia 9.2 8.3 3.3 16.5 37.3
    4 UK 2.7 15.1 6.7 12.5 37
    5 Hungary 11.4 10.4 9.7 4.9 36.4
    6 Ireland 3 12.3 6.7 13.9 35.9
    7 Latvia 7.6 8.2 5 11.9 32.7 –––
    8 Sweden 4.3 5.8 1 21.2 32.3
    9 Slovenia 9.7 9.6 1.3 9.7 30.3
    10 France 4.5 11.7 4 9.9 30.1
    11 Greece 10.2 10.7 1.3 6.8 29
    12 Poland 7.2 7.9 0.7 9.7 25.5
    13 Cyprus 9.7 9 0 6.4 25.1
    14 Portugal 9.1 6.9 3 6 25
    15 Croatia 6.6 9.5 0 8.8 24.9
    16 Belgium 7.1 7.1 3 4.2 21.4
    17 Romania 5.8 8.9 0 5.5 20.2
    18 Bulgaria 3.5 9.4 2 4.6 19.5
    19 Malta 3.3 8.6 0 7.5 19.4
    20 Denmark 3.7 6.1 2.7 6.3 18.8
    21 Netherlands 2.7 8.1 0.7 7.1 18.6
    23= Italy 4.2 7.5 0.7 5.3 17.7
    23= Spain 4.7 8.1 0.3 4.6 17.7
    24 Luxembourg 6.9 5.4 0 5.3 17.6
    26= Austria 3.5 5.4 0.7 7.3 16.9
    26= Slovakia 5.3 6.8 0 4.8 16.9 –––
    27 Czech Republic 3.3 7.2 0 3.3 13.8
    28 Germany 2.7 5.5 0 3.5 11.7

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