Snowdon: nanny state editor at large in Dublin
Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 12:15 
Pleased to report that Chris Snowdon, head of the IEA's Lifestyle Economics Unit and editor of the Nanny State Index, is speaking at a Forest dinner in Dublin next week (September 27).
Theme of the evening is 'The Nanny State We're In' and few people are more qualified to discuss the issue than the editor of the definitive guide.
Launched last year, the Nanny State Index is a league table of the worst places in the European Union to eat, drink, smoke and vape.
The UK currently ranks second, behind Finland, with Ireland third, so there will be lots to talk about.
On Tuesday, at another event in Dublin (September 26), Chris will address two related issues that are currently topical in Ireland - plain packaging of tobacco and minimum pricing of alcohol.
Plain packs are being introduced from the end of next week and minimum pricing is expected to be included in a new Public Health (Alcohol) Bill.
The event is hosted by Dublin Salon with the support of Forest. It's a public debate and admission is free so if you're resident in Dublin or visiting the city do join us. Click here to register.
Wednesday's dinner is a private event that follows the success of a similar dinner in June. Speaker on that occasion was Claire Fox, director of the Institute of Ideas, who is also addressing a Forest EU event in Brussels in November.
PS. We invited one of Ireland's most prominent vaping advocates to join us for 'The Nanny State We're In'. Not only did she deign to reply, a day or two later she unfollowed Forest on Twitter.
Coincidence?
Reader Comments (3)
Vaping advocates look and sound like tobacco control every day.
The one who snubbed you probably reckons jumping aboard the smoker hate campaign and getting into bed with public health thugs is likely to win favours for vaping.
After all, they are in it together for stoptober with more joint working in future to force smokers to quit and put big coffers in big ecig's pocket. Personally I see no difference anymore between vaping and public health which has come to own it.
I'm surprised she was ever following Forest at all on Twitter, to be honest. Most vapers have been so desperate to distance themselves from smokers that I'd have thought that anyone following such a wicked smoker-supporting organisation would be immediately ejected from respectable vaping society. You've probably let the cat out of the bag now, Simon!
More power to you Messrs Clark and Snowdon, IEA and Taking Liberties.
I am a frequent reader of your encouraging well researched and argued WWW comments but a first time poster.
Regret my inability to be in Dublin for the 27 September FOREST dinner but I and millions of other Australasians, endlessly nagged by the ruling dictatorial healthists, will surely be with you all in spirit.
Please consider adding Australia and New Zealand as honorary members of the Nanny State Index. We compete in Eurovision!
The rating is likely to be off the scale (e.g. Aus tobacco tax is now $991/kg, with three more 12.5% increases legislated), and would be of great assistance in efforts to repel continuing incursions into personal lifestyles free of petty intrusive micro management by governments.
Sgd Mark the free choice advocate
Canberra, Australia