Austria has performed well on the Nanny State Index in the past and is still towards the freer end of the table despite an uncompromising smoking ban being introduced in November 2019. Austria had long been one of Europe’s most smoker-friendly countries, but the ban has no exemptions. It includes vehicles in which passengers are under the age of 18, and also applies to e-cigarettes.

Since then, there has been little to report. Austria’s taxes on beer and spirits remain relatively low and it is one of the fifteen EU member states that has no duty on wine (except sparkling wine). Tobacco duty is relatively low by EU standards, especially after adjusting for affordability.

Tobacco advertising is only allowed at point of sale, but there is no ban on cigarette vending machines, no display ban and no serious talk of plain packaging.

E-cigarettes were once classified as medicinal products in Austria and effectively banned. That is no longer the case. E-cigarettes are available as consumer products and Austria is one of the dwindling number of EU states that has no excise tax on e-cigarette fluid. Cross-border sales are banned, however.

Austria takes a firm line on spirits advertising which is banned on television, radio and on billboards. Alcohol sponsorship is also banned outright, but beer and wine can be advertised in all media.

Calls to interfere with people’s diets have largely fallen on deaf ears in Austria. There are no sin taxes on food or soft drinks and Austria is one of eleven countries in the index that scores a perfect zero in the food and soft drinks category.