If the NHS denies treatment to smokers, it should give us back our tax money

19 October 2017
Healthcare

If the NHS denies treatment to smokers, it should give us back our tax money

Chris Snowdon writes for The Telegraph

Chris Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs has written for The Telegraph following the news that the NHS may deny smokers treatment. In his article Chris argues that if we set off down this path, there is no obvious end to it. There are thousands of avoidable risk factors for ... Continue reading
19 October 2017
Share

Why nudges are nothing to fear

Christopher Snowdon
16 October 2017
Lifestyle Economics

Why nudges are nothing to fear

Richard Thaler, a professor at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, was announced as this year’s winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics on Monday. Thaler is best-known for his contributions to the field of behavioural economics, alongside the 2002 winner Daniel Kahneman and former presidential adviser Cass Sunstein. Economists have never ... Continue reading
Christopher Snowdon
16 October 2017
Share
1 Comment on Why nudges are nothing to fear

Study accusing alcohol firms of downplaying cancer link doesn’t reflect scientific evidence

8 September 2017
Lifestyle Economics

Study accusing alcohol firms of downplaying cancer link doesn’t reflect scientific evidence

Chris Snowdon comments in The Guardian

Chris Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs has been quoted in The Guardian on whether or not the drinks industry have been downplaying the link between alcohol and cancer. In the article Chris argues that the authors of this report have cherry-picked quotes that do not fairly reflect scientific evidence. ... Continue reading
8 September 2017
Share

State rewards for exercise? Jog on

25 August 2017
Lifestyle Economics

State rewards for exercise? Jog on

Chris Snowdon writes for Spiked

Chris Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs has written for Spiked Online on the suggestion that the NHS may begin encouraging people to exercise with free cinema tickets and discounted supermarket shops. In the article Chris argues that none of these freebies are actually going to be 'free'. They will ... Continue reading
25 August 2017
Share

HMRC cashes in on our vices

13 August 2017
Lifestyle Economics

HMRC cashes in on our vices

New IEA research features in The Sunday Express

New IEA research that finds the UK will be paying £23 billion in ‘sin taxes’ next year has featured in The Sunday Express. The article references the reports findings on how smoking, eating and drinking to excess may be bad for your health, but it is good news for the taxman. HMRC generates billions of ... Continue reading
13 August 2017
Share

Premature deaths in north of England cannot be blamed on austerity

8 August 2017
Lifestyle Economics

Premature deaths in north of England cannot be blamed on austerity

Chris Snowdon appears on Newsnight

Chris Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs has appeared on BBC Newsnight to discuss the health of young adults in the north of England. In the interview Chris argues that the spike in deaths among men living in the north of England under the age of 45 in the 1990s ... Continue reading
8 August 2017
Share

Government will rake in nearly £25 billion in ‘sin taxes’ in 2018

7 August 2017
Lifestyle Economics

Government will rake in nearly £25 billion in ‘sin taxes’ in 2018

New IEA research features in City AM

New IEA research that finds the UK will be paying £23 billion in ‘sin taxes’ next year has featured in City AM. The article references the report's findings that the UK government will make a total of £24.7 billion from so-called "sin taxes" by 2018, more than offsetting the cost smokers, drinkers and the obese ... Continue reading
7 August 2017
Share

Smoking does not cost the UK taxpayer money

7 August 2017
Lifestyle Economics

Smoking does not cost the UK taxpayer money

New IEA research features in The Telegraph

New IEA research that finds the UK will be paying £23 billion in ‘sin taxes’ next year has featured in The Telegraph. The article quotes the report's calculations that smoking is worth almost £15 billion to the public purse because of the tax revenue and the savings from smokers' early deaths. The cost of smoking ... Continue reading
7 August 2017
Share

A thought experiment: what if everyone stopped drinking, smoking and overeating?

Christopher Snowdon
7 August 2017
Economic Theory

A thought experiment: what if everyone stopped drinking, smoking and overeating?

In these uncertain economic times, there is no better way for a lobbyist to get politicians' attention than by promising to save taxpayers billions of pounds. 'Public health' campaigners have long claimed that unhealthy lifestyles are a burden on the state, and their cost estimates seem to rise every year. The temperance lobby currently claims ... Continue reading
Christopher Snowdon
7 August 2017
Share
2 Comments on A thought experiment: what if everyone stopped drinking, smoking and overeating?

Smoking and the Public Purse

Christopher Snowdon & Mark Tovey
7 August 2017
Research

Smoking and the Public Purse

UK will pay almost £25 billion in 'sin taxes' next year

Summary:  This discussion paper provides the first estimate of the net effect of smoking on UK taxpayers per annum. Up until now, estimates have used a methodology that typically includes intangible costs, including costs to smokers themselves, while ignoring tangible savings to the state and tax revenues from tobacco duty. We estimate a net saving ... Continue reading
Christopher Snowdon & Mark Tovey
7 August 2017
Share
Download
PRESS RELEASE