Sin and consumption taxes, including taxes on tobacco and alcohol, cost low income people more than 37% of their income … Continue reading “Sin Taxes”

The rise in obesity amongst the UK population has been primarily caused by a decline in physical activity. Using government … Continue reading “Inactivity, not calorie consumption, behind rising obesity in the UK”

Summary: The rise in obesity in recent decades is popularly believed to be the result of increased consumption of calories … Continue reading “The Fat Lie”

Obesity prevalence has increased sharply in Britain since the 1970s. Many public health campaigners portray Britain’s obesity ‘epidemic’ as being … Continue reading “The Fat Lie – the real cause of the rise in obesity”

The Deaprtment of Health recently ran its second public consultation on plain (or ‘standardised’) packaging. This is my response on … Continue reading “IEA response to plain packaging consultation”

A few years ago, a Civitas report estimated that around 73 per cent of the population have ‘protected’ status, in … Continue reading “Should the obese have protected status?”

The e-cigarette market in Britain has the closest thing to perfect competition that you will see in the real world. … Continue reading “Why every e-cigarette user should be a free market libertarian”

Commenting on the publication of draft regulations for the plain packaging of tobacco, Mark Littlewood, Director General at the Institute … Continue reading “Evidence is not on the side of plain packaging”

Summary Alcohol policy in Britain and many other countries aims to reduce per capita alcohol consumption in the belief that … Continue reading “Punishing the Majority”