Malta drops into the green zone of this year’s index and has much to recommend it. It has no sugar tax, no e-cigarette tax and its taxes on alcohol are lower than average for an EU country.

It is far from perfect, however. It is one of only two EU countries to have prohibited the sale of heated tobacco products. It was one of the first countries in the world to ban smoking indoors (in 2004) and the legislation was toughened up in 2013 to make it among Europe’s most draconian ‘smoke-free’ laws. Only hotel rooms are exempt. Smoking (and vaping) in cars with passengers aged under 18 was banned in January 2017 with fines of €50.

The Maltese government briefly banned smoking in the outdoor areas of restaurants under the Tobacco (Smoking Control Act) but this was repealed in July 2020. The short-lived ban, which damaged the restaurant trade, not only banned smoking in outdoor sections but within ten metres of them.

Alcohol commercials cannot be broadcast before 9 pm and there is a total ban on tobacco and e-cigarette advertising. In 2018, Malta reduced its drink-driving limit to the EU average of 0.05g of alcohol per litre of blood.

Vaping is relatively common in Malta, but there has been confusion about whether e-cigarettes, which are regulated as tobacco products on the island, are banned in public places. Some health groups have claimed that they are but, in 2015, a woman who had been fined €233 for vaping in an enclosed place had her conviction overturned on appeal. The court confirmed that the smoking ban only applies to tobacco products, not e-cigarettes.

Adjusted for income, tobacco taxes are around the European average. A tax on wine was introduced for the first time in 2015, but at the low rate of €0.15 per bottle.

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).


Malta 2021

Malta drops into the green zone of this year’s index and has much to recommend it. It has no sugar tax, no e-cigarette tax and its taxes on alcohol are lower than average for an EU country.

It is far from perfect, however. It is one of only two EU countries to have prohibited the sale of heated tobacco products. It was one of the first countries in the world to ban smoking indoors (in 2004) and the legislation was toughened up in 2013 to make it among Europe’s most draconian ‘smoke-free’ laws. Only hotel rooms are exempt. Smoking (and vaping) in cars with passengers aged under 18 was banned in January 2017 with fines of €50.

The Maltese government briefly banned smoking in the outdoor areas of restaurants under the Tobacco (Smoking Control Act) but this was repealed in July 2020. The short-lived ban, which damaged the restaurant trade, not only banned smoking in outdoor sections but within ten metres of them.

Alcohol commercials cannot be broadcast before 9 pm and there is a total ban on tobacco and e-cigarette advertising. In 2018, Malta reduced its drink-driving limit to the EU average of 0.05g of alcohol per litre of blood.

Vaping is relatively common in Malta, but there has been confusion about whether e-cigarettes, which are regulated as tobacco products on the island, are banned in public places. Some health groups have claimed that they are but, in 2015, a woman who had been fined €233 for vaping in an enclosed place had her conviction overturned on appeal. The court confirmed that the smoking ban only applies to tobacco products, not e-cigarettes.

Adjusted for income, tobacco taxes are around the European average. A tax on wine was introduced for the first time in 2015, but at the low rate of €0.15 per bottle.

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