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?