Summary

• The UK is among the most authoritarian countries in Europe for food and soft drink, tobacco, and alcohol regulation


• The UK has the most restrictive tobacco regulation in Europe and the second most restrictive food and drink rules;


• The UK ranks in the middle of the pack, at 13th, for alcohol restrictions, but has among the highest alcohol taxes;


• The UK and Ireland have the most liberal policies on e-cigarettes;


• Overall, the UK is the 11th worst country out of 30 for lifestyle restrictions, up one spot since the last ranking in 2021;


• Turkey is the worst place to eat, drink, smoke and vape in Europe, followed by Norway and Lithuania. Germany, Czechia, and Italy are among the best.

Christopher Snowdon

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Head of Lifestyle Economics, IEA

Christopher Snowdon is the Head of Lifestyle Economics at the IEA. He is the author of The Art of Suppression, The Spirit Level Delusion and Velvet Glove; Iron Fist. His work focuses on pleasure, prohibition and dodgy statistics. He has authored a number of papers, including "Sock Puppets", "Euro Puppets", "The Proof of the Pudding", "The Crack Cocaine of Gambling" and "Free Market Solutions in Health".