The Index 2023

least free less free freest
Countries Alcohol (33.3) E-cigarettes (16.7) Food/Soft Drinks (33.3) Tobacco (16.7) TOTAL (100) 2021 ranking
1 Turkey 22.7 14 5.7 11.8 54.2
2 Norway 18.1 13.9 0.7 10.6 43.3 1
3 Lithuania 18.5 11.5 3 9.9 42.9 2
4 Finland 15.4 10 1.3 9.9 36.6 3
5 Hungary 2.7 10.6 10 12.3 35.6 4=
6 Ireland 16.9 1.3 4.3 12.3 34.8 7
7 Estonia 11.1 9.7 2.3 10 33.1 6
8 Latvia 11 9.1 4 6.3 30.4 4=
9 Poland 8.7 7.4 4.3 9 29.4 9
10 Sweden 14.5 5.9 1 7.6 29 10
11 UK 6.7 1.3 7 13.4 28.4 12
12 Slovenia 7.4 7.7 1.3 10.8 27.2 14
13 France 8.1 2.8 3 11.9 25.8 15
14 Croatia 6.9 5.3 2.3 10.4 24.9 13
15 Netherlands 4.7 7.1 0 10.3 22.1 18
16= Romania 4.6 5.3 0 12 21.9 16
16= Denmark 2.4 7.5 2.7 9.3 21.9 25
18 Greece 3.1 8 0 10.7 21.8 11
19 Portugal 4.4 7.6 1.6 7.6 21.2 17
20 Cyprus 4.5 7.9 0 8.7 21.1 19
21 Austria 5 6.2 0 7.2 18.4 20=
22 Belgium 1.7 6 1 9.1 17.8 20=
23 Malta 5.9 1.7 0 9.5 17.1 23=
24= Bulgaria 3.9 1.8 0 11.1 16.8 22
25 Slovakia 2.7 4.5 0 8.4 15.6 23=
26= Spain 2.9 3 0.7 8 14.6 27
26= Luxembourg 3.7 5.3 0 5.6 14.6 28
28 Italy 3.6 2.7 0.7 7.4 14.4 26
29 Czechia 2.5 1.7 0 8.9 13.1 29
30 Germany 2.3 2.1 0 5.6 10 30

About

The Nanny State Index (NSI) is a league table of the worst places in Europe to eat, drink, smoke and vape. The initiative was launched in March 2016 and was a media hit right across Europe. It is masterminded and led by IEA’s Christopher Snowdon with partners from all over Europe.

Enquiries: info@epicenternetwork.eu

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Previous versions: 2021, 2019, 2017

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About the Editor

Christopher Snowdon is the head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs. His research focuses on lifestyle freedoms, prohibition and policy-based evidence. He is a regular contributor to the Spectator, Telegraph and Spiked and often appears on TV and radio discussing social and economic issues.

Snowdon’s work encompasses a diverse range of topics including ‘sin taxes’, state funding of charities, happiness economics, ‘public health’ regulation, gambling and the black market. Recent publications include ‘Drinking, Fast and Slow’, ‘The Proof of the Pudding: Denmark’s Fat Tax Fiasco’, ‘A Safer Bet’, and ‘You Had One Job’. He is also the author of ‘Killjoys’ (2017), ‘Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism’ (2015), ‘The Art of Suppression’ (2011), ‘The Spirit Level Delusion’ (2010), ‘Velvet Glove, Iron Fist’ (2009).


The Index 2023

least free less free freest
Countries Alcohol (33.3) E-cigarettes (16.7) Food/Soft Drinks (33.3) Tobacco (16.7) TOTAL (100) 2021 ranking
1 Turkey 22.7 14 5.7 11.8 54.2
2 Norway 18.1 13.9 0.7 10.6 43.3 1
3 Lithuania 18.5 11.5 3 9.9 42.9 2
4 Finland 15.4 10 1.3 9.9 36.6 3
5 Hungary 2.7 10.6 10 12.3 35.6 4=
6 Ireland 16.9 1.3 4.3 12.3 34.8 7
7 Estonia 11.1 9.7 2.3 10 33.1 6
8 Latvia 11 9.1 4 6.3 30.4 4=
9 Poland 8.7 7.4 4.3 9 29.4 9
10 Sweden 14.5 5.9 1 7.6 29 10
11 UK 6.7 1.3 7 13.4 28.4 12
12 Slovenia 7.4 7.7 1.3 10.8 27.2 14
13 France 8.1 2.8 3 11.9 25.8 15
14 Croatia 6.9 5.3 2.3 10.4 24.9 13
15 Netherlands 4.7 7.1 0 10.3 22.1 18
16= Romania 4.6 5.3 0 12 21.9 16
16= Denmark 2.4 7.5 2.7 9.3 21.9 25
18 Greece 3.1 8 0 10.7 21.8 11
19 Portugal 4.4 7.6 1.6 7.6 21.2 17
20 Cyprus 4.5 7.9 0 8.7 21.1 19
21 Austria 5 6.2 0 7.2 18.4 20=
22 Belgium 1.7 6 1 9.1 17.8 20=
23 Malta 5.9 1.7 0 9.5 17.1 23=
24= Bulgaria 3.9 1.8 0 11.1 16.8 22
25 Slovakia 2.7 4.5 0 8.4 15.6 23=
26= Spain 2.9 3 0.7 8 14.6 27
26= Luxembourg 3.7 5.3 0 5.6 14.6 28
28 Italy 3.6 2.7 0.7 7.4 14.4 26
29 Czechia 2.5 1.7 0 8.9 13.1 29
30 Germany 2.3 2.1 0 5.6 10 30

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