Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
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Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
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Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
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Malta
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Portugal
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Slovakia
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United Kingdom
After jumping up the league table in 2019, Cyprus has been overtaken by a number of countries and drops to 19th. The island is sound when it comes to food, soft drinks and alcohol, but lets itself down with its treatment of vapers. In September 2017, it passed an excise tax on e-cigarette fluid of €0.12 per millilitre (€1.20 per standard bottle), even if the fluid does not contain nicotine. It also created a new category for heated tobacco products and taxed them at €150 per kilogram.
Vaping was included in the draconian smoking ban that was narrowly passed in February 2017. Despite an amendment relaxing restrictions in ‘open areas’ – defined as spaces which have one open side – the smoking/vaping ban remains harsh. Businesses and individuals who breach it risk a fine of up to €850. Only vape shops are exempt. Smoking and vaping is also prohibited in cars carrying children under the age of 16.
Tobacco and e-cigarette advertising is restricted to point of sale and cigarette vending machines are banned, but there is no display ban. Alcohol advertising is largely permitted although television and radio advertisements cannot air in the daytime.
Cyprus’s tobacco duty is lower than average for an EU country. Its tax on spirits is relatively low and it is one of fifteen EU countries to have no wine duty.
About
The Nanny State Index (NSI) is a league table of the worst places in Europe 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
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Previous version: 2019
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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, Telegraph and Spiked 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’, ‘A Safer Bet’, and ‘You Had One Job’. He is also the author of ‘Killjoys’ (2017), ‘Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism’ (2015), ‘The Art of Suppression’ (2011), ‘The Spirit Level Delusion’ (2010), ‘Velvet Glove, Iron Fist’ (2009).
Cyprus 2021
After jumping up the league table in 2019, Cyprus has been overtaken by a number of countries and drops to 19th. The island is sound when it comes to food, soft drinks and alcohol, but lets itself down with its treatment of vapers. In September 2017, it passed an excise tax on e-cigarette fluid of €0.12 per millilitre (€1.20 per standard bottle), even if the fluid does not contain nicotine. It also created a new category for heated tobacco products and taxed them at €150 per kilogram.
Vaping was included in the draconian smoking ban that was narrowly passed in February 2017. Despite an amendment relaxing restrictions in ‘open areas’ – defined as spaces which have one open side – the smoking/vaping ban remains harsh. Businesses and individuals who breach it risk a fine of up to €850. Only vape shops are exempt. Smoking and vaping is also prohibited in cars carrying children under the age of 16.
Tobacco and e-cigarette advertising is restricted to point of sale and cigarette vending machines are banned, but there is no display ban. Alcohol advertising is largely permitted although television and radio advertisements cannot air in the daytime.
Cyprus’s tobacco duty is lower than average for an EU country. Its tax on spirits is relatively low and it is one of fifteen EU countries to have no wine duty.
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