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
Sweden
Turkey
United Kingdom
Sweden has relatively high alcohol taxes even after adjusting for income, and, like most Nordic nations, its alcohol retail industry is a state monopoly. Alcohol advertising is completely banned on television and radio. Drinks with more than 15 per cent alcohol cannot be advertised in print. Outdoor alcohol advertising is also prohibited, and all tobacco advertising is banned. Since 1991, all television advertising that is perceived to be aimed at children aged under 12 has been illegal, and no advertising can be shown before, during, or after programmes aimed at children.
Sweden has the lowest smoking rate in Europe thanks to smokers switching to snus, but the government doesn’t like to talk about this success and has clamped down on other reduced-risk nicotine products. Vaping is banned wherever smoking is banned, and a tax on e-cigarette fluid of two krona (€0.21) per ml came into effect in July 2018. Cross-border sales are permitted, but visitors are only allowed to enter the country with 20 ml of fluid (and 200 g of heated tobacco).
Cigarette taxes are surprisingly low in Sweden, especially after adjusting for income, but heated tobacco products are taxed at 1,957 krona per kilogram (€181), one of the highest rates in the EU. Sweden’s smoking ban allows for designated smoking rooms in all workplaces, bars, and restaurants, but new legislation introduced in July 2020 banned smoking in playgrounds, train stations, on patios, outside restaurants and bars, and at the entrance of public venues. As mentioned, vaping is included in all these restrictions.
There is no ban on cigarette vending machines, no retail display ban, and no plain packaging (the government said that the latter would be unconstitutional). A tax on e-cigarette fluid was voted down by the Swedish Parliament in June 2022, with Moderate Party MP Johan Hultberg saying: “We’re worried that an e-cigarette flavour ban would result in more people smoking traditional cigarettes, which would lead to more deaths and serious health problems in the long run.” The Swedish government has also resisted demands from ‘public health’ activists to introduce a sugar tax.
With thanks to Timbro
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 versions: 2021, 2019, 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, 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).
Sweden 2023
Sweden has relatively high alcohol taxes even after adjusting for income, and, like most Nordic nations, its alcohol retail industry is a state monopoly. Alcohol advertising is completely banned on television and radio. Drinks with more than 15 per cent alcohol cannot be advertised in print. Outdoor alcohol advertising is also prohibited, and all tobacco advertising is banned. Since 1991, all television advertising that is perceived to be aimed at children aged under 12 has been illegal, and no advertising can be shown before, during, or after programmes aimed at children.
Sweden has the lowest smoking rate in Europe thanks to smokers switching to snus, but the government doesn’t like to talk about this success and has clamped down on other reduced-risk nicotine products. Vaping is banned wherever smoking is banned, and a tax on e-cigarette fluid of two krona (€0.21) per ml came into effect in July 2018. Cross-border sales are permitted, but visitors are only allowed to enter the country with 20 ml of fluid (and 200 g of heated tobacco).
Cigarette taxes are surprisingly low in Sweden, especially after adjusting for income, but heated tobacco products are taxed at 1,957 krona per kilogram (€181), one of the highest rates in the EU. Sweden’s smoking ban allows for designated smoking rooms in all workplaces, bars, and restaurants, but new legislation introduced in July 2020 banned smoking in playgrounds, train stations, on patios, outside restaurants and bars, and at the entrance of public venues. As mentioned, vaping is included in all these restrictions.
There is no ban on cigarette vending machines, no retail display ban, and no plain packaging (the government said that the latter would be unconstitutional). A tax on e-cigarette fluid was voted down by the Swedish Parliament in June 2022, with Moderate Party MP Johan Hultberg saying: “We’re worried that an e-cigarette flavour ban would result in more people smoking traditional cigarettes, which would lead to more deaths and serious health problems in the long run.” The Swedish government has also resisted demands from ‘public health’ activists to introduce a sugar tax.
With thanks to Timbro
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