Nanny state of the nation

The King's Speech on Tuesday confirmed that the Prime Minister intends to press ahead with legislation to raise the age of sale of tobacco by one year every year until no-one can legally purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products.

In response to a policy that threatens to treat future generations of adults like children (see ‘King’s Speech: Activists decry generational ban’), Forest is inviting opponents of the proposed legislation to join us in London on Monday November 20.

The event, at Old Queen Street Cafe in Westminster, features me, Claire Fox (aka Baroness Fox of Buckley), Henry Hill (ConservativeHome), Reem Ibrahim (Institute of Economic Affairs), and Ella Whelan (Academy of Ideas), but we also want to hear from you.

As well as highlighting the absurd nature of the proposed legislation, the event will also mark the recent publication of a short essay I wrote for the Academy of Ideas’ Letters on Liberty strand. By coincidence (it was written in July), the title is ‘Freedom: Up In Smoke?’.

If you're unfamiliar with Old Queen Street Cafe, it was opened last year by the same people who run the online magazine UnHerd, whose office is next door.

The cafe is open from 8.00am to 11.00pm for breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner, or events such as this and having visited it for the first time only a few weeks ago I can report that it's rather wonderful and definitely worth a visit.

You'll find us on the first floor where we've booked the Library and Club Bar for drinks and canapés from 6.15pm followed by what should be lively discussion at 7.00.

Places are limited so if you’d like to join us please reserve your place now. RSVP events@forestonline.org or register via Eventbrite.

The Institute of Economic Affairs will also be discussing the issue on Wednesday November 29 when the free market think tank hosts ‘Prohibition 2.0: the future of UK tobacco policy'.

Chaired by Reem Ibrahim, speakers include the IEA’s Chris Snowdon, Madeline Grant (Telegraph), Paul North (Volteface), and retailer Paul Cheema (Association of Convenience Stores). For details click here.