IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon has been quoted in The Daily Telegraph criticising the ‘neo-temperance’ movement seeking to restrict people’s lifestyle freedom.

Christopher said:

“Dr [Tim] Stockwell has never conducted any primary research into this as far as I’m aware…He just keeps creating systematic reviews with the aim of trying to obscure the J-curve and the benefits of drinking.

“You have what I think you can fairly describe as a neo-temperance movement operating quite effectively in Britain and around the world.

“A lot of these academics take the view that everybody needs to drink less. They’re very keen on being able to say there’s no safe level because then they could treat alcohol very similar to tobacco. Both these things are addictive, both cause cancer. 

“I think they’re playing quite a long game and they’re having to deny a lot of pretty credible science to do it. I think that they think it’s a noble lie to say there is no safe level. What harm can it do if people are discouraged from drinking?”

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