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Germany Takes Lead As Europe’s Most Liberal Country In Nanny State Index

Christopher Snowdon's Nanny State Index reveals Europe's most and least liberal countries for lifestyle freedoms

Christopher Snowdon Is the head of Lifestyle Economics at the ⁠Institute of Economic Affairs and is also an author⁠. 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.

According to Wikipedia,”Snowdon was born in North Yorkshire in 1976 and studied history at Lancaster University, graduating in 1998 with a second-class degree.”

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).

“The BrusselsReport.eu is a website featuring news and analysis covering European Union policy, Eurozone affairs and Investment. It aims to be a platform offering an alternative to the dominant EU policy consensus, criticizing fiscal transfers, top-down policy approach, loose monetary policies, protectionism, and excessive or ill-guided regulation and instead supporting decentralization,” said the Brussels report.

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People eat hamburgers at Meat Crew fast food restaurant on May 28, 2023, in Milan, Italy. The Nanny State Index is a league table of the worst places in Europe to eat, drink, smoke and vape. The initiative was launched in March 2016 and has been a media hit right across Europe. EMANUELE CREMASCHI/GETTY IMAGES.

In this episode of the Brussels Report podcast, BrusselsReport.eu editor Pieter Cleppe⁠ discusses the ⁠Nanny State Index (NSI)⁠, which is authored by Snowdon, along with partners across Europe.

This is a league table of the worst places in Europe to eat, drink, smoke and vape. The initiative was launched in March 2016 and has been a media hit right across Europe.  

According to the Nanny State Index 2019 edition, “Germany has overtaken the Czech Republic to become the EU’s most liberal country. Finland remains the least free member state when it comes to drinking, smoking, vaping and food regulation, with Lithuania and Estonia in second and third place respectively.”

Produced in association with Brussels Report

(Additional reporting provided by Brussels Report)

Edited by Priscilla Jepchumba and Judy J. Rotich

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