Townhall columnist Dan Mitchell mentioned me in one of his articles, referencing an earlier column of mine in CapX.
Bill Wirtz, in a column for CapX, warns that nanny-state policies treat people as infants.
“2017 has seen yet another increase in lifestyle regulations and sin taxes […] Historically, it was social conservatives pushing for this kind of meddling. […] How different is today’s excruciatingly irritating public health lobby […] ? Food and non-alcoholic drinks are […] under fire, and blamed for a range of health issues. France and Ireland are now cracking down on that scourge on society: fizzy drinks. Ireland introduced a new tax on sugary drinks, while France increased the tax created in 2012 under French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Such policies are highly regressive […] When Denmark introduced its controversial tax on fatty foods, consumers simply switched to cheaper – but equally unhealthy – alternatives. The country’s diet did not improve. […] We are adults and we sometimes make decisions for ourselves which are unhealthy. The answer is for us to moderate our consumption, not quasi-prohibition. It’s time to stop infantilising the […] consumer.”
To read the full article, click here.
