In Germany, the issue of banning smoking is within the competence of the federal states
Smoking is harmful, drinking is harmful, eating candy and chocolate, as they say, by the kilogram is also harmful to health. But does this mean that the state should somehow protect its citizens by restricting them? That is, for example, ban advertising of cigarettes, alcohol, sweets and impose higher duties on them? Or should adults be left to take care of their own health and get rid of bad habits, relying on their conscientiousness?
As Deutsche Welle notes, each country addresses these issues in its own way. The London Institute of Economic Affairs has been conducting special research in this direction for several years, determining which European Union countries have more liberal and stricter rules and laws regarding the availability of tobacco, alcohol, 'unhealthy' food, and so on. Based on the results of these studies, the so-called Nanny State Index is compiled, which could most accurately be translated as 'Index of Nanny States'.
The Institute of Economic Affairs thus notes countries where state regulation of the mentioned 'vices' is not so strong (which, according to London economists, is good) and those where particularly strict restrictions apply. This year, the most liberal of all turned out to be Germany. That is, it is here that you can drink, smoke, eat sweet or fatty foods more freely than in any other EU country.
At least, that is what the facts show. Germany, for example, is the only country in the EU where outdoor billboards advertising tobacco products are still allowed. Excise duties on alcohol here are lower than in most European Union countries. For strong drinks, for example, German duties are less than half of British ones. The fight against high sugar content in food products and lemonades from a legislative point of view is also sluggish in Germany. Hence the leadership in this, according to many experts, dubious ranking.
There is indeed nothing to be proud of, the authors of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung believe, commenting on this ranking. Thus, a representative of the AOK insurance association, Kai Kolpatzik, emphasized that it is precisely in Germany that laws should more strictly regulate disease prevention. 'In this sense, we are still at the level of developing countries,' the expert believes.
By the way, Germany is only slightly inferior in 'liberality' to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria. Well, at the other end of the list are Finland, Lithuania, and Estonia – EU countries that are the most unfavorable for a riotous life.