Latest news with #ChristopherSnowdon
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
UK has one Europe's biggest nanny states
The UK has one of the biggest nanny states in Europe, a new study has found. The report from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the European Policy Information Centre, titled the Nanny State Index 2025, said that the UK has the 7th biggest nanny state in Europe. Edited by Dr Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the think tank, it gives 29 European countries a score out of 100 according to how they regulate lifestyle choices. The country has moved up four places since the report was last published in 2023, from 11th place. The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the European Policy Information Centre said the UK's 'heavy-handed measures' including anti-smoking rules, sugar tax, and strict alcohol advertising laws, all impacted the ranking. The report noted the UK has the second highest taxes on cigarettes when adjusted for income in Europe and the fourth highest taxes on alcohol when adjusted for income. It added that the UK could climb even further up the rankings when the index is next published in 2027. A ban on disposable e-cigarettes, a generational tobacco sales ban, a new vape tax, and an unprecedented ban on 'less healthy' food advertising are all set to drive the country up the rankings when they come into force over the coming years. Despite the increased nanny state approach, the report found no correlation between stricter regulation and better health outcomes like life expectancy, lower smoking rates, or reduced alcohol consumption. A higher score on the Nanny State Index does not correlate with higher life expectancy. The IEA argues that these policies 'squeeze' consumers 'in the name of 'public health''. It also says that '[e]xcessive regulation creates excessive bureaucracy.' Despite the report's findings, Lord James Bethell, previously health minister under Boris Johnson's government, has advocated for what the IEA calls 'sin taxes'. In response to the report's findings, Bethell told City AM: 'Britain is slipping down the health rankings according to many sources, including the Legatum Prosperity Index where the UK ranked 34th in the health category in 2023, down from 23rd in 2019.' 'I agree with the IEA that pettifogging red-tape and the treacle of tiresome regulation is a huge drag-anchor on enterprise. 'That's why I support clear cut guardrails that give industry certainty and protect our national human capital, such as the 'Smoking Extinction 2040' measure in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, and banning social media for under-16s,' he added. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Parents swap plastic toys for compost kits in eco-conscious party bags
Parents are swapping plastic toys for compost kits and bird feeders in eco-conscious party bags. Climate concerns mean they are ditching traditional goodie bags that have been the staple of children's parties for years, turning to plastic-free alternatives such as books, bird feeders, seed kits and candles. One party bag includes a pine cone, bird-friendly peanut glue, a compostable bag and instructions to build a bird feeder. Another features a garden activity book, sustainable information card and a cornflower seed bomb. Others contain compost, 'save our planet' stickers and beeswax candles. Advocates of the party bags say they are important to reduce plastic, but critics have accused parents being 'miserablists'. Christopher Snowdon, an author and head of lifestyle and economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, asked where children's opinions came in regarding the decline in traditional party gifts. He said: 'Has anyone asked the kids if they are happy getting a handmade present or no present at all from their friends? This is miserablism masquerading as prudence. 'Young children do not require expensive gifts on their birthdays. Most of them would be happy with a packet of sweets. What they don't want is parents conspiring behind their backs to deprive them of a bit of fun.' In 2012, McDonald's scrapped plastic Happy Meal toys to try and reduce their environmental impact. However, it said last month that it wanted to reintroduce the toys to create 'that familiar feeling of excitement when kids open the box'. A non-traditional approach to party bags has also been championed by the Duchess of Sussex, who revealed in With Love, Meghan, her Netflix series, that she fills her children's party bags with gardening tools, seeds, basil and sugar snap peas. She faced criticism from parents on Mumsnet, who claimed she 'clearly doesn't know what kids like at all'. However, retail figures show the Duchess's approach is on the rise. The Curious Caterpillar Partyware company reported that eco-friendly products, such as plastic-free party bags and wooden or paper toys, had been a key driver of sales and said 50 per cent of its party bag sales was coming from eco-friendly options, such as cotton or paper bags. High street chains such as John Lewis are also seeing a rise in party bag sales, but only recyclable paper ones, with 75 per cent more sold this May than last year. The shift comes as a survey by the Kids Party Pact showed parents were growing increasingly concerned over the environmental impact of party bags, with over 75 per cent worried about excessive plastic toys. Parents are beginning to embrace different approaches, with 22 per cent saying they already included gift guidelines on party invitations. Alongside eco-friendly ideas, parents are opting for second-hand gifts, books or requesting no gifts at all. Elaine Halligan, a parenting coach, author and speaker, said: 'Thank goodness the days of party bags filled with plastic fantastic, and sugary sweeties complete with E-numbers are a thing of the past. The reality is party bags rarely illicit a huge sense of gratitude from children.'
South Wales Guardian
30-04-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Cost of milkshakes and sweet treats to rise due to sugar tax
Plans to end the exemption from the levy for dairy-based drinks, as well as non-dairy substitutes such as oats or rice, were put out for consultation on Monday (April 28). Chancellor Rachel Reeves had said in her autumn budget last year that the Government would consider broadening the tax to include such drinks. The Treasury confirmed plans to press ahead with the changes on Monday, as well as a proposal to reduce the maximum amount of sugar allowed in drinks before they become subject to the levy from 5g to 4g per 100ml. As a result of widespread reformulation after the initial announcement of the so-called soft drinks industry levy (SDIL), 89% of fizzy drinks sold in the UK do not pay the tax, the Treasury said. Some 203 pre-packed milk-based drinks on the market, which make up 93% of sales within the category, will be hit with the tax unless their sugar content is reduced under the new proposals, according to Government analysis. The SDIL was introduced by the previous Tory government in April 2018 as part of its anti-obesity drive. The exemption for milk-based drinks was included because of concerns about calcium consumption, particularly among children. However, the Treasury said young people only get 3.5% of their calcium intake from such drinks, meaning 'it is also likely that the health benefits do not justify the harms from excess sugar'. 'By bringing milk-based drinks and milk substitute drinks into the SDIL, the Government would introduce a tax incentive for manufacturers of these drinks to build on existing progress and further reduce sugar in their recipes,' it said. The Institute for Economic Affairs, a right-wing free-market think tank, expressed concerns about the cost to consumers of the proposed changes. Recommended Reading 'The sugar tax has been such a dramatic failure that it should be repealed, not expanded,' said Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the institute. 'Sugar taxes have never worked anywhere. What happened to Starmer's promise to not raise taxes on working people?' The Government consultation on the plans will run from Monday until July 21.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Is the taste of YOUR favourite drink about to change? Sugar tax extension 'will force recipe tweaks' - with Pepsi and Irn Bru among those now in the firing line
Some of Britons' favourite drinks could be forced into a recipe change after Labour pressed ahead with changes to the sugar tax on soft drinks. The Treasury has confirmed plans to extend the soft drinks industry levy (SDIL) to milkshakes and other dairy-based drinks. It has also proposed reducing the maximum amount of sugar allowed in drinks before they become subject to the levy from 5g to 4g per 100ml. The toughened rules are set to impact a whole swathe of drinks on sale in supermarkets, including Pepsi, Ribena, Fanta and Starbucks caffe latte iced coffee. The Government suggested the changes, which have been put out to consultation, would see manufacturers continue to further reduce sugar in their recipes. But industry figures hit out at a 'muddled and damaging shifting of the goalposts' that would have 'questionable positive health outcomes'. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in her Budget in October that Labour would consider broadening the tax, which was introduced by the Tories in 2018 as part of anti-obesity efforts. In a consultation document published yesterday, the Treasury said the latest analysis showed there were 866 products with between 4g and 4.9g of total suger per 100ml. There are 203 pre-packed milk-based drinks on the market, which make up 93 per cent of sales within the category, with a total sugar content of 5g or above per 100ml. These are all likely to be hit with the tax under the new proposals unless their recipes are altered to reduce sugar content. As a result of widespread reformulation after the initial announcement of the SDIL, 89 per cent of fizzy drinks sold in the UK do not pay the tax, the Treasury added. The exemption for milk-based drinks was initiall=ly included because of concerns about calcium consumption, particularly among children. But the Treasury said young people only get 3.5 per cent of their calcium intake from such drinks, meaning 'it is also likely that the health benefits do not justify the harms from excess sugar'. 'By bringing milk-based drinks and milk substitute drinks into the SDIL, the Government would introduce a tax incentive for manufacturers of these drinks to build on existing progress and further reduce sugar in their recipes,' it added. Fizzy drinks such as Old Jamaica Ginger Beer, Lucozade Energy Original, Pepsi, Rubicon Sparkling Mango, and San Pellegrino Limonata all contain more than 4g of sugar per 100ml. Meanwhile, Starbucks Caffe Latte Iced Coffee and Muller Frijj Chocolate Milkshake are also likely to fall foul of proposed new rules for dairy-based drinks. These are set to take account of the average lactose content of semi-skimmed milk, which is 4.8g lactose per 100ml. The Treasury set out how a drink containing 75 per cent milk will get an allowance of 4.8g x 75 per cent, which equals 3.6g per 100ml. This lactose allowance would then be added to the SDIL threshold of 4g per 100ml, which gives a total of 7.6g of total sugar per 100ml. Christopher Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs said: 'The sugar tax has been such a dramatic failure that it should be repealed, not expanded. 'It has been costing consumers £300million a year while childhood obesity rates have continued to rise. 'To claim it has been a success on the basis of a hypothetical reduction of one calorie a day is absurd. 'Sugar taxes have never worked anywhere. What happened to Sir Keir Starmer's promise to not raise taxes on working people?' A spokesperson for the British Soft Drinks Association said: 'This decision is a muddled and damaging shifting of the goalposts which risks undermining years of reformulation investment with questionable positive health outcomes. 'More than seven out of every 10 soft drinks sold in the UK are low or no sugar and the total sugar removed from soft drinks between 2015 and 2024 is just under three quarters of a billion kilograms. 'Lowering the SDIL threshold to 4g – on top of the previously-announced, backdated 27 per cent increase to the levy – comes at a time of major and unprecedented financial headwinds for our members, from record-high inflation and NIC increases, to spiralling ingredient costs and incoming trade tariffs. 'Such cost increases have already impacted our members' ability to grow their businesses and boost employment, and the lowering of the SDIL threshold risks making this even more challenging.' A spokesperson for the Food and Drink Federation said: 'We welcome the opportunity to input to the Government's consultation on the SDIL, to share our sector's views and technical expertise. 'Soft drink manufacturers have already made significant progress reducing the amount of sugar in their drinks, including milk-based drinks. 'Thanks to many years of investment in research and development, manufacturers have reduced sugar in drinks that are subject to the levy by 46 per cent in the last five years. 'Significant progress has also been seen in pre-packed milk-based drinks, which are not subject to the levy, with a 30 per cent sugar reduction in the last three years. 'Food and drink manufacturers are facing a series of inflationary pressures and government must continue to create the right conditions for businesses to innovate and also be clear about their long-term goals to promote business confidence. 'A predictable regulatory environment is vital to ensuring our sector can continue to invest in developing healthier options.' Dr Hannah Brinsden, of The Food Foundation, said: 'SDIL has been a major public health success, removing tonnes of sugar from soft drinks and in turn our diets, while also raising money for children's health. 'It's only right that we keep ensuring it is working as well as possible; removing exemptions on milk-based drinks and changing the sugar thresholds where the tax is paid are two important improvements. 'However, sugar in our diets comes from a range of food, not just soft drinks. 'If the Government is serious about improving diets, our health and the economy, they're going to need to be more ambitious and consider extending SDIL to food as the next step.' The Government consultation on the plans will run from Monday until July 21.
Powys County Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Cost of milkshakes and sweet treats to rise due to sugar tax
The sugar tax applied to fizzy drinks is set to be extended to milkshakes and similar treats under Government proposals. Plans to end the exemption from the levy for dairy-based drinks, as well as non-dairy substitutes such as oats or rice, were put out for consultation on Monday (April 28). Chancellor Rachel Reeves had said in her autumn budget last year that the Government would consider broadening the tax to include such drinks. The Treasury confirmed plans to press ahead with the changes on Monday, as well as a proposal to reduce the maximum amount of sugar allowed in drinks before they become subject to the levy from 5g to 4g per 100ml. As a result of widespread reformulation after the initial announcement of the so-called soft drinks industry levy (SDIL), 89% of fizzy drinks sold in the UK do not pay the tax, the Treasury said. Price of milkshakes could increase under sugar tax expansion Some 203 pre-packed milk-based drinks on the market, which make up 93% of sales within the category, will be hit with the tax unless their sugar content is reduced under the new proposals, according to Government analysis. The SDIL was introduced by the previous Tory government in April 2018 as part of its anti-obesity drive. The exemption for milk-based drinks was included because of concerns about calcium consumption, particularly among children. However, the Treasury said young people only get 3.5% of their calcium intake from such drinks, meaning 'it is also likely that the health benefits do not justify the harms from excess sugar'. 'By bringing milk-based drinks and milk substitute drinks into the SDIL, the Government would introduce a tax incentive for manufacturers of these drinks to build on existing progress and further reduce sugar in their recipes,' it said. The Institute for Economic Affairs, a right-wing free-market think tank, expressed concerns about the cost to consumers of the proposed changes. 'The sugar tax has been such a dramatic failure that it should be repealed, not expanded,' said Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the institute. 'Sugar taxes have never worked anywhere. What happened to Starmer's promise to not raise taxes on working people?'
