Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
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Turkey
United Kingdom
Luxembourg is one of the more liberal places in the Nanny State Index and can always be found towards the bottom of the league table. Adjusted for income, it has the lowest taxes on alcohol and cigarettes in any of the 30 countries. Even in cash terms, it has the lowest rate of beer duty. It has no wine duty at all. The government has been planning to legalise cannabis for several years, but it has still not quite managed it.
There is no retail display ban for tobacco, no plain packaging mandate, no sugar tax, and no vape tax. Restrictions on alcohol advertising are relatively trivial. It is one of 11 countries that scores a perfect zero for food and soft drinks regulations.
So, what’s not to like? Luxembourg’s Achilles’ heel is its negative attitude towards safer nicotine products. Heated tobacco has never been licensed for sale, and it is, therefore, de facto banned. Luxembourg’s former health minister, Lydia Mutsch, took a dim view of vaping, believing it to be a gateway to smoking. Luxembourg bans e-cigarette advertising everywhere except at the point of sale, and cross-border sales are illegal. Vaping is banned everywhere smoking is banned, although, fortunately, the country’s smoking ban has plenty of exemptions.
Surprisingly, Luxembourg has a national closing time of 1 AM for drinking establishments, although owners can apply to stay open until 3 AM. In August 2017, a ban was introduced on smoking in vehicles if a child under 12 years is a passenger, and smoking is banned in and around children’s playgrounds.
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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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).
Luxembourg 2023
Luxembourg is one of the more liberal places in the Nanny State Index and can always be found towards the bottom of the league table. Adjusted for income, it has the lowest taxes on alcohol and cigarettes in any of the 30 countries. Even in cash terms, it has the lowest rate of beer duty. It has no wine duty at all. The government has been planning to legalise cannabis for several years, but it has still not quite managed it.
There is no retail display ban for tobacco, no plain packaging mandate, no sugar tax, and no vape tax. Restrictions on alcohol advertising are relatively trivial. It is one of 11 countries that scores a perfect zero for food and soft drinks regulations.
So, what’s not to like? Luxembourg’s Achilles’ heel is its negative attitude towards safer nicotine products. Heated tobacco has never been licensed for sale, and it is, therefore, de facto banned. Luxembourg’s former health minister, Lydia Mutsch, took a dim view of vaping, believing it to be a gateway to smoking. Luxembourg bans e-cigarette advertising everywhere except at the point of sale, and cross-border sales are illegal. Vaping is banned everywhere smoking is banned, although, fortunately, the country’s smoking ban has plenty of exemptions.
Surprisingly, Luxembourg has a national closing time of 1 AM for drinking establishments, although owners can apply to stay open until 3 AM. In August 2017, a ban was introduced on smoking in vehicles if a child under 12 years is a passenger, and smoking is banned in and around children’s playgrounds.
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