Podcast appearances and mentions of Christopher Snowdon

Dr Christopher Snowdon joins us to discuss the "Not Invented Here" syndrome in activist groups and policy campaigns. From weight loss drugs to e-cigarettes, nuclear power to GM foods, Snowdon explores how campaign groups often resist practical solutions that weren't developed by their own organisations - even when these solutions clearly work. Using real-world examples, Snowdon breaks down how activist groups frequently prefer radical societal changes over pragmatic fixes. He examines cases like public health groups opposing effective weight loss medications while pushing for dramatic changes to food environments, and environmental groups rejecting nuclear power despite its clear benefits for reducing emissions. The conversation reveals how institutional preferences and ideological commitments can sometimes override stated goals. The discussion dives into why this resistance happens, from the sunk cost fallacy to anti-corporate sentiment, and explores what it means for solving major societal challenges. Snowdon explains how campaign groups' rejection of market-based solutions often stems from deeper ideological preferences for reshaping society, rather than simply addressing the problems they claim to want to solve. This episode offers insights into why some of our most pressing problems remain stuck in ideological gridlock despite available solutions. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

Join host Callum Price, IEA's Director of Communications, along with Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics, and Kristian Niemietz, Editorial Director, as they explore the recent farmers' protests in Westminster over inheritance tax changes. Our panel dives into the complex debate around taxing agricultural assets, food security, and the broader implications for Britain's countryside. The discussion weighs the principles of fair taxation against the practical challenges faced by family farms and agricultural businesses. The conversation then shifts to the latest free speech controversy involving police action against a journalist over a tweet. Our guests examine how the discourse around free speech has evolved, noting how different political groups change their stance depending on who's being censored. Snowdon and Niemietz discuss the concerning trend of "sensible centrists" failing to defend free speech principles consistently. Finally, Price leads the panel in analysing the growing competition between X (formerly Twitter) and BlueSky, examining whether social media platforms are truly natural monopolies. The panel explores how user migration works, the role of influential accounts in platform shifts, and whether these platforms are becoming increasingly politically segregated. They also debate whether platform ownership affects content moderation and user experience. We bring you a public affairs podcast with a difference. We want to get beyond the headlines and instead focus on the big ideas and foundational principles that matter to classical liberals. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

Consider this our call to arms for wine. Where we grapple heroically with the thorny issue of wine and health, calling out misinformation and over-reach, and learn that the truth is always complex, potentially positive - but often mis-represented. This makes us angry and frustrated. And you should feel the same too.You may also feel confused or jaded by this topic. Understandably so. But join us and we will hopefully clear things up AND imbue you with renewed vigour to fight the good fight. Because this is about things we all hold dear - freedom, fairness and our health and personal pleasure. For wine lovers, this is not a time to stay silent. Helping us shed light on this contentious topic are Christopher Snowdon from the Institute of Economic Affairs and Dr Laura Catena, former emergency physician in San Francisco, now head of respected Argentine winery Catena Zapata. Also cited are Tim Stockwell, Sir David Spiegelhalter, Kenneth Mukamal, Eric B Rimm and Edward Slingerland. Along the way we talk dogs, megaphones, the J-shaped curve, bacon sandwiches, zombie arguments and quantifying joy. We even find time to recommend some delicious wines. Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode including full wine recommendations, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E3 - Life or Death? On Wine and HealthInstagram: @susieandpeter

Join the Institute of Economic Affairs for a panel discussion on "The Torch of Liberty: Can the Conservative Party win back the young?" at the 2024 Conservative Party Conference. Hosted by Reem Ibrahim, Acting Director of Communications at the IEA, this engaging session features Lord David Frost, Conservative Member of the House of Lords, Tom Clougherty, IEA Executive Director, and Dr. Christopher Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics. The panel explores the crucial question of whether the Conservative Party can rediscover its love for liberty and appeal to younger voters. Our speakers delve into topics such as economic freedom, personal liberties, and the challenges facing conservative principles in modern British politics. They discuss the impact of recent policies, the role of ideology in shaping political discourse, and strategies for promoting free-market ideas in an increasingly collectivist environment. Don't miss this conversation as our experts analyse the Conservative Party's recent track record, debate the future of freedom-oriented policies, and offer their perspectives on how to make liberty appealing again. Whether you're a political enthusiast, a young conservative, or simply interested in the future of British politics, this panel provides valuable insights into the ongoing struggle between individual freedom and state intervention. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this episode, we hear from Christopher Snowdon who is the head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs. Chris wrote a recent article, entitled The bizarre campaign against Physician Associates, in which he argues that the interests of doctors are being elevated above the interests of patients. Chris talks about he sees this as the driving force for the recent anti-PA campaign. Chris is the author of Killjoys, Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism, The Art of Suppression: Pleasure, Panic and Prohibition Since 1800, The Spirit Level Delusion, and, Velvet Glove, Iron Fist. You can find him tweeting at @cjsnowdon You can connect with the Physician Associate Podcast Twitter - @PApodcastUK Facebook - @PApodcastUK Instagram - @PApodcastUK

In a Reaction special, Peter Hitchens and writer and economist Christopher Snowdon debate the merits for the case brought against and the conviction of serial killer Lucy Letby.  Hitchens has repeatedly called for the case to be re-examined, arguing there are grounds Letby could be the victim of an unsafe conviction, while Snowdon has in the past referred to the voices doubting the veracity of Letby's guilt, as ‘a gaggle of armchair detectives, armchair pathologists and armchair barristers.' Over the space of an hour, Snowdon and Hitchens attempt to find some middle ground in a case that has divided and shocked a nation. To get in touch email Reaction@dailymail.co.uk, you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on WhatsApp - on 07796 657512 start your message with the word 'reaction' Presenters: Peter Hitchens & Christopher Snowdon Producer: Philip Wilding Editor: Buddy Peace Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Executive Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Across the Anglosphere, governments on both sides of politics have never been more interested in the personal lives of their citizens. The nanny state thrives from Australia to the United Kingdom, and even in that traditional bastion of freedom, the USA.Christopher Snowdon is the UK's leading warrior against the excesses of the nanny state. He is the Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, the author of six books, the editor of the Nanny State Index, and the co-host of the brilliant “Last Orders” podcast from Spiked.Please leave Fire at Will a rating and a review in your favourite podcast app!Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here.Read The Spectator Australia here.Visit Christopher's website here.

"You Do Not Exist: An Introduction to George Orwell's 1984" is a comprehensive analysis of one of the most influential novels of the 20th century, published by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). This thought-provoking work delves into the life of George Orwell, the historical context that shaped his writing, and the enduring relevance of his masterpiece, 1984. Through a meticulous examination of Orwell's experiences, influences, and the novel's themes, the author, Christopher Snowdon, offers a compelling exploration of the novel's warnings against totalitarianism, the corruption of language, and the erosion of objective truth. Combining biographical details, literary analysis, and contemporary parallels, "You Do Not Exist" serves as an invaluable guide to understanding the depth and resonance of Orwell's dystopian vision, inviting readers to contemplate the timeless lessons and cautionary tales embedded within its pages. Get full access to Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

"You Do Not Exist: An Introduction to George Orwell's 1984" is a comprehensive analysis of one of the most influential novels of the 20th century, published by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). This thought-provoking work delves into the life of George Orwell, the historical context that shaped his writing, and the enduring relevance of his masterpiece, 1984. Through a meticulous examination of Orwell's experiences, influences, and the novel's themes, the author, Christopher Snowdon, offers a compelling exploration of the novel's warnings against totalitarianism, the corruption of language, and the erosion of objective truth. Combining biographical details, literary analysis, and contemporary parallels, "You Do Not Exist" serves as an invaluable guide to understanding the depth and resonance of Orwell's dystopian vision, inviting readers to contemplate the timeless lessons and cautionary tales embedded within its pages.

In this episode of The Swift Half with Snowdon, Christopher Snowdon welcomes Erik W. Matson, Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, to delve into Matson's latest work "New Paternalism Meets Older Wisdom". Matson's book, a critical examination of the "new paternalism" philosophy within behavioural economics, published by the IEA, challenges the notion that nudging policies based on choice architecture truly serve individuals' best interests. Drawing from insights of philosophers like David Hume and Adam Smith, Matson argues for respecting individual autonomy and cautions against paternalistic interventions that may undermine authentic human agency. Their conversation touches on various aspects, including time inconsistency in decision-making and the dangers of overriding diverse values based on simplistic assumptions of people's "true" desires.

Join Adrian Chiles and Christopher Snowdon on The Swift Half with Snowdon as they delve into the complexities of alcohol consumption and societal norms. From Chiles' insights from his documentary "Drinkers Like Me" to discussions on drinking guidelines and labelling, the conversation offers thought-provoking perspectives on moderation and personal choices. With expertise in lifestyle economics and broadcasting experience, Snowdon and Chiles navigate through the layers of drinking culture, challenging perceptions and exploring the intersection of policy, lifestyle, and personal freedom. Tune in for an engaging discussion that goes beyond the surface, shedding light on the nuances of alcohol dependence and social drinking.

Dive deep into the realm of Canada's prohibition and more with Christopher Snowdon and special guest, Professor Dan Malleck from Brock University. Together, they unpack the complexities of alcohol, tobacco, and prohibition, challenging prevailing narratives and advocating for evidence-based approaches. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that questions conventional wisdom and reflects on the intersection of health, choice, and government intervention.

As a follow up to Felicity Carter's show last week, in which we mentioned referenced the work of Christopher Snowdon often, I am re-releasing Episode 274 to give another perspective. This was originally released April 29, 2019. We raised all sorts of red flags in this show and Christopher has been consistent on his blog about how moderate drinking is still good for you and why wine is NOT the new tobacco...This is a great supplement and another viewpoint on this subject and dovetails perfectly with last week's show.The show notes are simple this week: his two articles --“The campaign to make alcohol ‘the new tobacco'” March 28, 2019 (Scroll down to see the article on this page)"A glass of wine won't shorten your life -- moderate drinking is still good for you" April 17, 2018 More on Chris:Snowdon is author of five books: 'Polemics' (2020) 'Killjoys' (2017), 'Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism' (2015), 'The Art of Suppression' (2011), 'The Spirit Level Delusion' (2010) and 'Velvet Glove, Iron Fist' (2009). He has also written more than a dozen reports for the Institute of Economic Affairs including ‘Drinking, Fast and Slow', ‘and ‘Closing Time: Who's killing the British pub?'. He blogs at The Snowdon SubstackFull show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople_______________________________________________THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!!Wine Access has an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment. Get 10% your first order with my special URL.  To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a follow up to Felicity Carter's show last week, in which we mentioned referenced the work of Christopher Snowdon often, I am re-releasing Episode 274 to give another perspective. This was originally released April 29, 2019. We raised all sorts of red flags in this show and Christopher has been consistent on his blog about how moderate drinking is still good for you and why wine is NOT the new tobacco...This is a great supplement and another viewpoint on this subject and dovetails perfectly with last week's show.     The show notes are simple this week: his two articles -- “The campaign to make alcohol ‘the new tobacco'” March 28, 2019 (Scroll down to see the article on this page) "A glass of wine won't shorten your life -- moderate drinking is still good for you" April 17, 2018   More on Chris: Snowdon is author of five books: 'Polemics' (2020) 'Killjoys' (2017), 'Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism' (2015), 'The Art of Suppression' (2011), 'The Spirit Level Delusion' (2010) and 'Velvet Glove, Iron Fist' (2009). He has also written more than a dozen reports for the Institute of Economic Affairs including ‘Drinking, Fast and Slow', ‘and ‘Closing Time: Who's killing the British pub?'. He blogs at The Snowdon Substack   Full show notes and all back episodes of the podcast are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople   _______________________________________________ THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!!   Wine Access has an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment. Get 10% your first order with my special URL.      To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes    

This week Scott is on assignment measuring the radius of Earth with a wooden spoon so William takes the opportunity to interview fellow Yorkshireman, author and good egg Christopher Snowdon about his book The Art of Suppression: Pleasure, Panic and Prohibition Since 1800. Don't forget to join our Telegram channel at T.me/historyhomos and to join our group chat at T.me/historyhomoschat The video version of the show is available on Youtube, bitchute, odysee. For weekly premium episodes or to contribute to the show subscribe to our channel at www.rokfin.com/historyhomos Any questions comments concerns or T-shirt/sticker requests can be leveled at historyhomos@gmail.com Later homos --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/historyhomos/support

Writer and researcher Christopher Snowdon joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss smoking, vapes, obesity and all kinds of prohibitionism.

In this special episode of TPA Talks, Christopher Snowden, Head of Lifestyle Economics for the IEA, discusses the Nanny State Index, which ranks European countries based on excessive regulation of food, drinks, vaping, tobacco, and alcohol. Discover why the UK has climbed to the unenviable position of being the second-worst country for food and soft drink regulation, the role of e-cigarettes in harm reduction, tobacco taxes, and more. Visit nannystateindex.org to see the full league table and learn more!

Cindy Yu is joined by Neil Wallis and Freddy Gray to discuss Prince Harry's lone crusade in the hacking trial against the Mirror. Also on the show, Katy Balls on the Prime Minister's trip to Washington; Christopher Snowdon on why it's time for Britain to pull out of the WHO; Michael Shellenberger to defends free speech and Helen Joyce on the terf Oxfam advert. 00:00 Welcome from Cindy Yu 02:14 What happened when Prince Harry took the stand? With Neil Wallis and Freddy Gray 16:20 Is the 'special relationship' reciprocated? With Katy Balls 23:19 Is it time Britain left WHO? With Christopher Snowdon 36:26 Why are government's clamping down on free speech? With Michael Shellenberger 48:39 Why is Oxfam weighing in on the gender critical debate? With Helen Joyce Produced by Natasha Feroze. 

We're lucky enough to be joined on this episode by Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs. We chat various alcohol policies, the Neo-Temperance movement, what the science actually does say about alcohol, and what he's learned following various nanny state policies around Europe and the world. Read the Snowdon Substack: https://snowdon.substack.com/ Broadcast on Consumer Choice Radio on June 3, 2022. Syndicated on Sauga 960AM and Coastal Carolina Network. Website: https://consumerchoicecenter.org/radio ***PODCAST***  Podcast Index: https://bit.ly/3EJSIs3 Apple: http://apple.co/2G7avA8  Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3iXIKIS RSS: https://omny.fm/shows/consumerchoiceradio/playlists/podcast.rss Our podcast is now Podcasting 2.0 compliant! Listen to the show using a Bitcoin lightning wallet-enabled podcasting app (Podverse, Breeze, Fountain, etc.) to directly donate to the show using the Bitcoin lightning network (stream those sats!).  More information on that here: https://podcastindex.org/apps  Produced by the Consumer Choice Center. Support us: https://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this special Saturday edition of Coffee House Shots, The Spectator's James Heale, journalist Peter Hitchens and the IEA's Christopher Snowdon argue the cases for and against daylight saving time. Are we all being needlessly robbed of an hour in bed? Or should we lighten up and embrace the longer days?  Produced by Natasha Feroze and Oscar Edmondson. 

From sin taxes to plain packaging, smoking bans to warnings about the perils of office cake, the reach of Britain's nanny state has never felt more pervasive or pedantic. Only this week the public health panjandrums came up with a new wheeze - proposing reducing the calorie content of certain naughty foods by 10% in a bid to shrink the nation's waistlines. Few know the intricacies of the public health bureaucracy – and the redundancy of many of their arguments – like our guest this week, the scourge of the scolds, Christopher Snowdon. As Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, Chris is one of the most passionate and articulate defenders of individual liberty against misguided, over-zealous paternalism. He joined our editors John Ashmore and Alys Denby for a fun-filled chat about booze, fags and how to deal with the Covid 'Smileys'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher John Snowdon is a British author and freelance journalist. He has written for Spiked magazine, The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator among other publications. He is particularly known as a vocal opponent of government intervention in areas such as tobacco, alcohol and obesity. Snowdon is also Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs. https://www.christophersnowdon.com/  https://iea.org.uk/christopher-snowdon/  https://mobile.twitter.com/cjsnowdon  DONATE and help the channel grow - https://donorbox.org/help-me-buy-stuff  PRE-ORDER MY GAMESTOP BOOK - https://wen-moon.com  Buy Brexit: The Establishment Civil War - https://amzn.to/39XXVjq    You can listen to the show on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms - https://chatterpodcast.podbean.com/  Watch Us On Odysee.com - https://odysee.com/$/invite/@TheJist:4    Buy Brexit: The Establishment Civil War - https://amzn.to/39XXVjq  Join My Mailing List - https://www.getrevue.co/profile/thejist  Follow Me On Twitter - https://twitter.com/Give_Me_TheJist  Website - https://thejist.co.uk/    Music from Just Jim – https://soundcloud.com/justjim  Extract Labs CBD - https://extract-labs.pxf.io/n10JMa  Canva Premium Graphics - https://partner.canva.com/b3A9X6 

Christopher Snowdon has a discussion with Tom about why he does not believe in draconian government control and is wholeheartedly against the "nanny state". He also discusses his favourite music, including his love of Frank Zappa.This episode is brought to you by Lumie, the original inventors of wake-up lights, whose Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB wake-up light mimics a natural sunrise and sunset. Shown to improve quality of sleep and to boost productivity in clinical trials, this remarkable device also features high quality audio with DAB+ radio, Bluetooth speakers, USB port and a selection of over 20 sleep/wake sounds. The Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB can transform the way you start and end your day, especially if you struggle to wake up in the morning and/or get to sleep at night. Go to lumie.com to find out more.

PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 2ND  Energy prices are soaring and policymakers find themselves at a crossroads. Down one path is further government intervention in the sector, with many calling for windfall taxes on North Sea oil and gas firms. Down the other, some argue that the government should put Net Zero aspirations on hold and focus on ensuring security of supply by boosting the domestic production of oil and gas. In this episode of the Swift Half with Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics, Christopher Snowdon, is joined by Angela Knight, former Conservative MP for Erewash and the Chief Executive of Energy UK from 2012 to 2014. They discuss the energy market and what can be done to fix it.

PUBLISHED ON JULY 12TH   The last fortnight has caused a political storm in the UK. Boris Johnson's resignation as PM has triggered a leadership race and renewed debates about UK economic strategy and how the government should ease the high cost of living. In this episode, Christopher Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics, is joined by Eamonn Butler, Co-founder and Director of the Adam Smith Institute, to appraise Boris Johnson's tenure as PM and the future of the UK's economic direction.

PUBLISHED ON JULY 21ST In this episode of the Swift Half with Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics, Christopher Snowdon, is joined by Clive Bates, advocate of low-risk tobacco alteratives. They discuss the barriers to e-cigarette use, the attitude of the WHO and much more!

PUBLISHED ON AUGUST 22ND In this episode of the Swift Half with Snowdon, Christopher Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics, is joined by Alex Deane, political commentator and consultant. From whether we should be optimistic about Britain's future to the need for tax simplification, they discuss a variety of fascinating topics.

The Soft Drinks Industry Levy, also known as the Sugar Tax, was introduced in the UK in 2018 with the aim of tackling childhood obesity. But what might the implications be if the UK Government decides to scrap it? According to many people, it has been a great success.   Drinks manufacturers have reformulated their products, reducing the sugar content in drinks, around £300 million a year has been raised, which has been spent on things like school sports and breakfast clubs, and it is estimated the amount of sugar purchased by households through soft drinks fell by 10% in the year following the introduction. However, not everyone thinks it is a good thing. And its existence is under threat.  At the time of writing, Liz Truss has announced her resignation as UK Prime Minister, but it is not clear who will replace her. In the weeks before her resignation, it was widely reported that she was considering scrapping the Sugar Tax. As treasury minister Liz Truss said "taxes on treats" hit those on the lowest incomes and people should be "free to choose".      Whoever takes over at 10 Downing Street will have a decision to make; keep the Sugar Tax or abandon it. So, we are asking: how well has the tax worked, and what might happen if it was to disappear? Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics, Institute of Economic Affairs Christopher Snowdon is Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs. He is the author of The Art of Suppression, The Spirit Level Delusion and Velvet Glove; Iron Fist.  His work focuses on pleasure, prohibition and dodgy statistics.  He has authored a number of publications including Sock Puppets, Euro Puppets, The Proof of the Pudding, The Crack Cocaine of Gambling and Free Market Solutions in Health Giles Yeo MBE,  Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology at the Medical Research Council's Metabolic Diseases Unit Giles Yeo is a Principal Research Associate at MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit and the Scientific Director of the Genomics/Transcriptomics Core at the University of Cambridge.  His main research focus is exploring brain control of food intake and the role genetics plays in appetite behaviour.  Giles is not just a researcher; he is also a published author and broadcaster. 

Recorded Live On: 9/24/22 This Week's Blog: https://casaa.org/oregon-judge-slaps-down-vaping-flavor-ban-and-more-tobacco-harm-reduction-news/ YouTube Live Replay: https://youtu.be/UvOzLibbpu0 FaceBook Live Replay: https://fb.watch/fMLYwGgHiu/ Twitter Live Replay: https://twitter.com/CASAAmedia/status/1573771787909091329?s=20&t=vGO0YRRs1Dn_1CseGxJr1w Join CASAA: casaa.org/get-involved/join/​ CASAA State Pages: casaa.org/get-involved/state-...​ Donate: casaa.org/get-involved/donate/​ Shop: casaa.threadless.com/collections​

Amid a summer of strikes and the rising cost of living, the economic policies of the candidates vying to become the next Conservative leader and prime minister are unsurprisingly at the forefront of their campaigns. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Miatta Fahnbulleh from the New Economics Foundation, and Christopher Snowdon from the Institute of Economic Affairs, to put both candidates' plans under the microscope and look at the challenges the new occupant of Number 10 will face come the autumn. Editor – Paul Stanworth Producer - Rosie Gillott Interviews producer – Alys Bowen Digital producer - David Chipakupaku

All Live with Littlewood episodes are live streamed on the IEA's YouTube Channel fortnightly on Wednesday at 18:00.  ON THE PANEL... Alys Denby, Deputy Editor, CapX Mark Johnson, Legal and Policy Officer, Big Brother Watch Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics, IEA Victoria Hewson, Head of Regulatory Affairs, IEA Support the IEA on Patreon, where we give you the opportunity to directly help us continue producing stimulating and educational online content, whilst subscribing to exclusive IEA perks, benefits and priority access to our content https://patreon.com/iealondon    FOLLOW US: TWITTER - https://twitter.com/iealondon​​  INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/ieauk/​​  FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/ieauk​​  WEBSITE - https://iea.org.uk/ 

This episode was originally featured as a video on the IEA's YouTube Channel. In this episode of the Swift Half with Snowdon, Christopher Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics, sits down with Mark Schrad, Professor at the Department of Political Science at Villanova University, to discuss temperance movements and the history of prohibitionism. Mark's latest book, 'Smashing the Liquor Machine: A Global History of Prohibition', can be bought here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smashing-Liq...  FOLLOW US: TWITTER - https://twitter.com/iealondon​​  INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/ieauk/​​  FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/ieauk​​  WEBSITE - https://iea.org.uk/ 

TalkTV International Editor Isabel Oakeshott kicks off today's show to discuss the shocking cost of living crisis in the UK as prices soar across the country when it comes to fuel, heating bills etc. Conservative MP Marco Longhi joins shortly after to discuss Dominc Raabs newly proposed British Bill of Rights and this may assist in the UK's efforts to go forward with the Rwanda Migrant Plan despite the ECHRs best efforts to thwart this from going ahead. Independent Statistician Jamie Jenkins returns to The Independent Republic to discuss surgeries struggle as 20,000 GPs plan to quit the NHS,and Christopher Snowdon from the IEA closes the show to discuss how during the lockdown, despite all the restrictions, pubs closed, less ads, etc. there was a 19% increase in alcohol related deaths. All that and so much more, so tune in! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode was recorded on 27th May 2022 The Swift Half with Snowdon is originally featured as a video on the IEA YouTube Channel.    With inflation at 9%, the highest it has been for 40 years, many of us are understandably worried about a tough year ahead. However, while we know that inflation is rising, the causes of it are not always clear.  In this episode of the Swift Half with Snowdon, Christopher Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics, sits down with Julian Jessop, Independent economist and former Chief Economist at the IEA, to discuss inflation and why it is rising.   FOLLOW US: TWITTER - https://twitter.com/iealondon​​  INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/ieauk/​​  FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/ieauk​​  WEBSITE - https://iea.org.uk/ 

Can people predict the future? According to Superforecaster, Jonathon Kitson, some can get pretty close!  In this episode of the Swift Half with Snowdon, Christopher Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics sits down with Jonathon Kitson, Superforecaster and Fellow at the Adam Smith Institute, to discuss military spending, his experience of clinical vulnerability during the pandemic and much more! This episode was originally featured as a video on the IEA's YouTube Channel. Watch here.   FOLLOW US: TWITTER - https://twitter.com/iealondon​​  INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/ieauk/​​  FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/ieauk​​  WEBSITE - https://iea.org.uk/ 

In this episode of The Swift Half with Snowdon, Christopher Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics, sits down with director and producer, Martin Durkin. They discuss a multitude of topics, ranging from the growth of statism, the state of the Conservative party to the privatisation of Channel 4.   This episode was originally recorded on the IEA YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/ruKhMiNfCt4   FOLLOW US: TWITTER - https://twitter.com/iealondon   INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/ieauk/  FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/ieauk  WEBSITE - https://iea.org.uk/ 

In this episode of The Pin Factory, the ASI's Daniel Pryor is joined by Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs. They discuss the Nanny State.  Guests:   Daniel Pryor (Head of Research, Adam Smith Institute) Christopher Snowdon (Head of Lifestyle Economics, Institute of Economic Affairs)

On this episode of the Swift Half with Snowdon, Christopher Snowdon is joined by comedian, Konstantin Kisin. From comedy to the Russian propaganda machine to public trust in the media, they discuss a variety of topics and world issues, all in a swift half an hour. Support the IEA on Patreon, where we give you the opportunity to directly help us continue producing stimulating and educational online content, whilst subscribing to exclusive IEA perks, benefits and priority access to our content https://www.patreon.com/iealondon   FOLLOW US: TWITTER - https://twitter.com/iealondon INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/ieauk/ FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/ieauk WEBSITE - https://iea.org.uk/

The cause of liberty has taken quite a hit in recent years. The Coronavirus pandemic ushered in far-reaching state intervention and we now see liberal principles under attack in Ukraine. With all this in mind, is there a case for optimism? In this episode, Christopher Snowdon sits down with Johan Norberg, author and Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute to discuss the above question. They explore a variety of issues and debate whether optimism is warranted.   Support the IEA on Patreon, where we give you the opportunity to directly help us continue producing stimulating and educational online content, whilst subscribing to exclusive IEA perks, benefits and priority access to our content https://www.patreon.com/iealondon   FOLLOW US: TWITTER - https://twitter.com/iealondon INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/ieauk/ FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/ieauk WEBSITE - https://iea.org.uk/

Journalist and RegWatch host Brent Stafford joins Shaping Vaping to discuss Congress' last-minute synthetic nicotine rider, CDC's misinformation campaign on EVALI, and the motivations behind the anti-vaping movement. Plus, this week's Media Lap Dogs.

Hello and welcome to the Alcohol Alert, brought to you by The Institute of Alcohol Studies.In this edition:IAS seminar on Alcohol and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development GoalsExtensive OECD publication details the investment case for alcohol control policies 🎵 Podcast feature 🎵New minimum unit pricing studies in Scotland bolster the argument for its implementation 🎵 Podcast feature 🎵Confusion over WHO global alcohol action plan 🎵 Podcast feature 🎵Brain imaging study suggests there is no safe level of alcohol consumption for brain health Study highlights the prevalence of alcohol advertising in the Rugby Six Nations Parliament debates labelling and the Misuse of Drugs ActWe hope you enjoy our roundup of stories below: please feel free to share. Thank you.Alcohol and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development GoalsIAS sustainability series, seminar 1. Seminar speakers: Chair: Kristina Sperkova, Movendi InternationalDudley Tarlton, United Nations Development ProgrammeProfessor Jeff Collin, University of EdinburghAadielah Maker Diedericks, South African Alcohol Policy AllianceThe Institute of Alcohol Studies hosted the first seminar in its four-part series on alcohol and sustainability, 10 June 2021. The seminar focused on the impact of alcohol on the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the opportunities for improved alcohol policy arising from the Goals.Goal 3.5 explicitly targets alcohol, with the commitment to ‘Strengthen the prevention of treatment of substance abuse, including…harmful use of alcohol’. Beyond that, alcohol has been identified as an obstacle to achieving 14 of the 17 SDGs, which can be seen as social, environmental, and economic. Social goals such as ending poverty, hunger, achieving gender equality and maintaining peace and justice, are all affected by alcohol harm. Kristina Sperkova, President of Movendi International, highlighted that alcohol pushes people into poverty and keeps many there, and consumes spending that would otherwise be used on education and food. There are many studies that demonstrate the link between alcohol use and violence, particularly between young men and relating to domestic violence. Ms Sperkova detailed the high environmental cost of alcohol production. Land required to grow crops for alcohol reduces biodiversity. Huge amounts of water are used for alcohol production, with 870 litres of water needed to produce one litre of wine. She pointed out that alcohol is often produced in places that have scarce water supplies, to serve the desires of higher income countries that have an abundance of water.The economic burden of alcohol use across the world is enormous, with high-income countries seeing annual losses of between 1.4% and 1.7% of GDP due to alcohol harm. Much of this is due to the loss of productivity. In England in 2015, 167,000 working years were lost due to alcohol. It was suggested that more effective alcohol control policies would not only reduce the harm but would also help finance sustainable development. The investment case Dudley Tarlton, Programme Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), introduced the work UNDP is doing in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), to present the case for improving and implementing effective alcohol policies, with economic rationale being the main driver.WHO’s SAFER initiative details the five most cost-effective interventions to reduce harm. Mr Tarlton stated that these five interventions would give a 5.8% return on investment.  Modelling by UNDP across 12 countries including Russia, Turkey, and Ethiopia, shows that investing in WHO’s recommended prevention measures would generate 19 billion USD over the next 15 years – mainly due to productivity gain – and 865,000 deaths would be averted. UNDP is also looking into investment cases relating to alcohol-attributable deaths from causes such as liver cirrhosis, road injuries, tuberculosis, and HIV. They are drafting toolkits for countries to take up these policies and could be instrumental in getting revenue to help close covid-related fiscal gaps. As lower socioeconomic groups would disproportionately benefit from the health benefits of increased alcohol taxes, Mr Tarlton highlighted that part of Goal 10 on reducing health inequalities would be targeted by such taxes. The obstacle of the alcohol industryProfessor Jeff Collin, Edinburgh University, posited how the alcohol industry has positioned itself as aligned with the SDGs and as engines of development. The International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) has a toolkit for governments on how to build partnerships with the alcohol industry. Diageo’s ‘Business Avengers’ coalition highlights their role in aiming to achieve the SDGs. Namibian Breweries (NBL) has listed out which SDGs it is helping, including SDG 3: “NBL has a responsibility to minimise harmful alcohol consumption.”Prof Collin explained that the industry is using the commitment of governments and organisations to SDG 17 – ‘Partnerships for the Goals’ – to push their own strategic agenda, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pre-pandemic, Diageo collaborated with CARE to address barriers to gender inclusion in the alcohol giant’s supply chain. Following the outbreak of the pandemic, Diageo supported CARE’s emergency response, giving clean water supplies, hygiene kits, and food. According to Prof Collin’s work, the alcohol industry is using corporate social investment (CSI) and philanthropy to shape policy and pursue partnerships, to further its strategic interests. This is especially true in its targeting of women in developing countries, who are seen as a key emerging market. Pernod Ricard India launched an initiative around women entrepreneurs, which aptly shows the two faces of alcohol philanthropy, with the company’s CMO Kartik Mohindra stating: “It is quintessential for brands to create products that appeal to them [women]. And if they don’t have more women in senior leadership roles, they are not likely to have the significant insights needed to tap into the highly sensitive minds of their ever-growing numbers of female consumers.”In Southern Africa – as Aadielah Maker Diedericks of the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) discussed – there are particularly striking examples of industry-government partnerships and conflicts of interest, with civil society in the region perceiving Big Alcohol’s involvement in the region as a form of neo-colonisation. Ms Diedericks explained that policy makers are often on the boards of alcohol companies in the region, that governments hold shares in the industry, and the industry’s agenda is often successfully pushed through. Very few Southern African countries are taking on issues of marketing, pricing, and availability, instead focusing on road safety and underage drinking. Both Prof Collin and Ms Diedericks said that SDG 17 has confused countries, with governments thinking the only relationship with the alcohol industry is one of partnership, ignoring potential conflicts of interest. South Africa case studySouth Africa has seen intense lobbying by the industry in recent months, with Ms Diedericks saying that they are using the narrative of job promotion to demonstrate their value. This is despite R246billion being spent on alcohol harm compared to R97billion in revenue. The industry has campaigned extensively around the idea of economic loss associated with alcohol control policies, using dubious research to back up their claims. This comes at a time of high unemployment rate in South Africa and therefore gets a lot of media attention. Ms Diedericks described the relationship between industry and South Africa’s government as “abusive” due to the industry threatening disinvestment in the country if there were controls to alcohol availability. What next? The speakers argued that the SDGs need to be used better as a rallying point for alcohol control measures. SDG 17 in particular should be used to develop policy coherence and that the building of coordinated approaches across other unhealthy commodities, such as junk food, should be considered. There needs to be clear rationale for why enacting alcohol control policies would help achieve the SDGs, and taxation has a lot to offer towards sustainable financing. Please watch the full seminar below, or click here for a 30minute edited version. Join us in September for seminar two in our four-part series. New OECD report models economic effect of alcohol policies  🎵 Podcast feature 🎵The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a book entitled ‘Preventing Harmful Alcohol Use’, 19 May 2021. It analyses the cost of alcohol consumption in 52 countries (OECD, EU and G20 countries), due to reduced life expectancy, increased healthcare costs, decreased productivity, and lower GDP. As with the IAS seminar on alcohol and sustainability, this report provides clear economic rationale for why countries should consider implementing alcohol control policies. The report looks at trends and patterns in alcohol consumption in the 52 countries, as well as looking at the regional differences across Europe. The following statistics and modelling relate to the 52 countries, unless otherwise stated. Health and economic burden of alcoholHealth care costs for alcohol as percentage of total health care expenditureChildren’s education and bullyingPolicies for reducing consumption The report looked at which alcohol control policies countries currently implement and those that they should consider. It mentions the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy and Global Action Plan in reducing the harmful use of alcohol, referring to these as the best practice policy responses. The report states that:“policies to reduce the harmful consumption of alcohol and associated harms cannot be addressed through one policy intervention – rather, a suite of interventions is needed within a comprehensive strategy”. This will “require a multi-sectoral approach, including health, law enforcement and social services sectors”.How would policies affect health and the economy?  Simulation modelling shows varying degrees of impact of alcohol control policies across the countries. Across the 48 countries analysed by OECD it was found that savings in healthcare costs are greater than the costs of running interventions.How has minimum unit pricing affected Scotland and Wales so far? 🎵 Podcast feature 🎵Since Scotland implemented minimum unit pricing for alcohol (MUP) in May 2018 and Wales in March 2020, initial studies have shown a substantial shift in alcohol purchases and consumption. On 28 May 2021, The Lancet published a study, by Professor Peter Anderson and colleagues, that analysed the purchasing habits of over 35,000 British households, in order to assess the impact of MUP in Scotland and Wales. Purchases in northern England were compared with Scottish purchases, and western England purchases with Wales. The measured changes associated with MUP were: price paid per gram of alcohol, grams of alcohol purchased, and amount of money spent on alcohol.The results of the study were:In Scotland the price per gram saw a 7.6% increase and a purchase decrease of 7.7%In Wales the price increased by 8.2% and purchasing decreased by 8.6%The biggest changes were in households that generally bought the most alcohol. Little change was seen in households that bought small amounts of alcohol and those with low incomesFollowing The Lancet report, on 17 June 2021 Public Health Scotland released its report Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy. The report looked at alcohol purchasing, affordability and consumption in Scotland in 2020. The report found that:The report also shows a reduction in alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland from 2018-2019, with the rate for men being the lowest since 1996. However, rates are still higher in Scotland than in both England and Wales. Alison Douglas of Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) said:“We're really pleased to see that as a nation we are drinking less for the third year running and that alcohol consumption is at a 25-year low - this is a good indication that minimum unit pricing is having the intended effect. But given nearly a quarter of Scots are still regularly drinking over the chief medical officers' low-risk drinking guidelines, we can't afford to take our eye off the ball where preventing alcohol harm is concerned.” AFS has called on the government to raise the level at which MUP is set from 50p to 65p per unit, arguing that inflation has made it less effective since the legislation was passed eight years ago. Following the success Scotland has seen, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, Chair of the Alcohol Harm Commission, and Dr Katherine Severi, Chief executive of IAS, called on the UK Government to introduce MUP in England. They argued that there is now sufficient evidence of MUP’s effectiveness and that it is now more urgent than ever due to increases in high-risk drinking and alcohol-specific deaths in England. Public Health Scotland released an interim report at the end of June, which suggests that there is little evidence that MUP has led to people substituting cheap alcohol with other substances or illicit alcohol. Confusion over WHO’s global action plan on alcohol 🎵 Podcast feature 🎵In mid-June, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the first draft of its ‘Global alcohol action plan 2022-2030’. The action plan’s aim is to aid in the implementation of WHO’s Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, which in turn aims to reduce morbidity and mortality due to harmful alcohol use and the ensuing social consequences. The strategy aims to “promote and support local, regional and global actions”, giving guidance and support on policy options, national circumstances, religious and cultural contexts, public health priorities, as well as resources and capabilities. In response to the draft action plan, media across the UK focused on a statement included that said:“Appropriate attention should be given to prevention of the initiation of drinking among children and adolescents, prevention of drinking among pregnant women and women of childbearing age.”Most news reports lambasted the wording that women of childbearing age should be prevented from drinking. Two prominent commentators quoted in press reports were Christopher Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs, and Matt Lambert of the Portman Group, who said it was “unscientific, patronising and absurd” and “sexist and paternalistic” respectively. Responding to the media furore, Professor Niamh Fitzgerald, University of Stirling, spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour: “It is striking that the commentators in the reports are from the alcohol industry. It is clearly an attempt to discredit WHO…before a WHO forum next week [week-commencing 21 June], which is looking at empowering governments against industry marketing. This is a first draft and that mention, which is ill-advised, doesn’t appear in the actions, so we shouldn’t worry that WHO is trying to stop women of childbearing age from drinking.”Dr Sadie Boniface, the Institute of Alcohol Studies’ Head of Research, said “It is a shame that this one phrase in the report has hoovered up attention. This is the launch of an ambitious plan to address alcohol harm, and alcohol is the top risk factor globally for mortality among 15–49 year olds.”According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Dag Rekve, Alcohol Policy Advisor at WHO, said:“It was just meant as the period where you are potentially carrying children and this is not generalising to all women in that age. It can be interpreted that we are saying that women of childbearing age should not drink alcohol and is a completely wrong interpretation and we will make sure that it’s not interpreted like that. If the media also can pick up on the incredible harm from alcohol in the world in the same way they picked up on this poorly formulated phrase, then perhaps we could really achieve something.”No safe level of alcohol for brain health A yet to be peer-reviewed study suggests that all levels of drinking are associated with adverse effects on the brain.Researchers at Oxford University, led by Dr Anya Topiwala, used brain imaging data from 25,000 participants of the UK Biobank study and looked at the relationship between this and moderate alcohol consumption. The results found that higher consumption of alcohol was associated with lower grey matter density and that alcohol made a larger contribution than any other modifiable risk factor, including smoking. Negative associations were also found between alcohol and white matter integrity. Particular damage was seen to the anterior corpus callosum, which connects the frontal lobes of the left and right hemispheres of the brain and ensures both sides of the brain can communicate with each other. Dr Topiwala, said “There’s no threshold drinking for harm – any alcohol is worse. Pretty much the whole brain seems to be affected – not just specific areas, as previously thought.”In response to the study, Dr Sadie Boniface, IAS Head of Research, said:“While we can’t yet say for sure whether there is ‘no safe level’ of alcohol regarding brain health at the moment, it has been known for decades that heavy drinking is bad for brain health. We also shouldn’t forget alcohol affects all parts of the body and there are multiple health risks. For example, it is already known there is ‘no safe level’ of alcohol consumption for the seven types of cancer caused by alcohol, as identified by the UK Chief Medical Officers.”The authors highlighted that one of the limitations of the study was the use of the Biobank data: that the sample is healthier, better educated, less deprived, and with less ethnic diversity than the general population. Dr Rebecca Dewey of the University of Nottingham responded to this, saying that “Therefore some caution is needed, but the extremely large sample size makes it pretty compelling”. The study argues that current drinking guidelines could be amended to reflect the evidence about brain health rather than solely about cardiovascular disease and cancer risk. Professor Paul M. Matthews, Head of the Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, supported this suggestion. Alcohol, rugby and adolescent drinking A study by Dr Alex Barker and colleagues that looked at the prevalence of Guinness advertising in the 2019 Rugby Six Nations Championship, found the following across the 15 games:Two weeks after this study was published it was announced that the National Football League (NFL) in the US was to get its first spirits sponsor, with Diageo signing a multiyear deal. Until four years ago advertising of spirits was banned in the NFL, with beer advertising dominating. Why is this important? Dr Barker’s research states that exposure to alcohol advertising is associated with adolescent initiation of drinking and heavier drinking among existing young drinkers. It goes on to explain that the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK does not regulate footage of imagery from sporting events and although this should be covered by Ofcom it is not. Sports sponsorship is self-regulated by the Portman Group, whose code states that it “seeks to ensure that alcohol is promoted in a socially responsible manner and only to those over 18” and that “drinks companies must use their reasonable endeavours to obtain data on the expected participants, audience or spectator profile to ensure that at least the aggregate of 75% are aged over 18”. The study authors point out that even if 75% of the audience are adults, as sporting programmes are very popular with children they are still being exposed to regular alcohol advertising. If the remaining 25% are children, with huge sporting events there will still be millions of children seeing such advertising. The England versus Croatia Euros 2020 game had a UK audience of 11.6 million, which would potentially mean 2.9 million children seeing alcohol advertising during that game alone – a number acceptable under the self-regulatory rules.  The researchers argue that this weak regulatory approach should be reviewed and “Restrictions on, and enforcement of, alcohol advertising during sporting events are needed to protect children and adolescents from this avenue of alcohol advertising.” They go on to say that future studies should look at if this increased exposure leads to increased sales for alcohol brands. The conversation around advertising of unhealthy commodities in sport has picked up in June, due to the actions of footballers at the European Football Championship.Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo removed bottles of Coca-Cola from a press conference and held up a bottle of water declaring “Agua. Coca-Cola, ugh”. A few days later Paul Pogba removed a bottle of Heineken from his conference. This led to the launching of a Muslim athletes’ charter, which seeks to "challenge organisations" to make progress in supporting Muslim sportsmen and women. There are 10 points in the charter, such as “non-consumption of alcohol, including during celebrations, the provision of appropriate places to pray, halal food, and being allowed to fast in Ramadan”. UEFA, the governing body of the Euros, then threatened to fine teams if players continued to snub sponsors. England’s manager Gareth Southgate came out in support of sponsors, saying “the impact of their money at all levels helps sport to function, particularly grassroots sport…we are mindful in our country of obesity and health but everything can be done in moderation”.What happened in Parliament? Obesity strategyThe House of Commons debated the implementation of the 2020 Obesity Strategy on 27 May. Minister Jo Churchill (Department of Health and Social Care) brought up the topic of alcohol labelling. She highlighted the number of calories some people in the UK consume via alcohol: “each year around 3.4 million adults consume an additional day’s worth of calories each week from alcohol”. She went on to state that the Government will be publishing a consultation shortly on the introduction of mandatory calorie labelling on pre-packed alcohol and alcohol sold in the on-trade sector. Churchill said that the main aim was to ensure people were fully informed so that they can make educated choices on what they consume. Labour MP Dan Carden’s contribution focused solely on alcohol labelling. He brought attention to the fact that non-alcoholic drinks have to display far more nutritional information than alcoholic drinks. He also pushed the UK government for a national alcohol strategy, as “We had the highest rate of deaths from alcohol on record this year. Alcohol-specific deaths are at an all-time high at a moment when drug and alcohol services are underfunded and mental health services are overstretched.” During the debate, Alex Norris MP (Labour) and Jim Shannon MP (Democratic Unionist Party) agreed that there needs to be a stronger alcohol strategy. Carden also spoke of the importance of bringing together strategies to combat obesity, drugs, gambling and alcohol.Food and drink regulationsThe House of Lords debated the Food and Drink Regulations 2021 on 19 May. Baroness Finlay of Llandaff discussed alcohol labelling, saying that people had the right to information in order to take control of their health and make informed choices. She argued that alcoholic drink labelling should form part of an obesity strategy and a comprehensive alcohol strategy. “If the role of food labelling is to inform, to empower people to protect themselves from harm and to allow regulation to support that duty to protect our citizens from harm, updating the labelling becomes a moral imperative.”Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle of the Green Party agreed with Baroness Finlay that alcohol labelling is currently inadequate.Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist (Conservative) responded to Baroness Finlay “The Department of Health is planning to issue a consultation on calorie labelling for alcohol in the near future with a view to making it a requirement from perhaps 2024.”Misuse of Drugs ActThe Commons debated the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act on 17 June. MPs agreed that the UK’s current drug policy is not working. Labour MP Jeff Smith argued that it should be liberalised to reduce harm, advocating the legalising of cannabis. He stated that alcohol is more harmful than many illegal drugs and yet it is legal. “We mitigate the harm from alcohol use by legalising it, regulating it, making sure that it is not poisonous and making it safe, and we can invest the tax raised from its sale in the NHS and public messaging.”Labour, Conservative and SNP MPs agreed with Smith, with Allan Dorans of the SNP saying that “Advice, support and education should be provided in the same way as they are for other health issues, including alcohol and tobacco.” The UK Alcohol Alert (incorporating Alliance News) is designed and produced by The Institute of Alcohol Studies. Please click the image below to visit our website and find out more about us and what we do, or the ‘Contact us’ button. Thank you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit instalcstud.substack.com

John Rentoul starts the show. Brendan O'Neill talks about Piers Morgan leaving GMB and free speech. Neil Oliver and Mike have their weekly discussion and Christopher Snowdon joins Mike to speak about gambling. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Toby Young and Christopher Snowdon join Mike Graham for the second edition of Head to Head. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

James and Toby open with a discussion of Christopher Snowden's Quillette article on Lockdown Scepticism and the mauling the lockdown sceptic Lord Sumption has received since his appearance on The Big Questions, and Toby's censure by the press regulator, Ipso. A special welcome to Conservative MP Neil O'Brien (or his researcher) who is now listening to London Calling and quoting things our men have... Source

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Christopher Snowdon from the Institute of Economic Affairs discusses new Covid Marshals. Marcus Fysh talks about the new trade deal between the UK and Japan. Dr Rakib Ehsan from the Henry Jackson Society talks about BLM in the UK. Dr Anjana Khatwa takes the homeschooling for today on Pangaea and finally, the Perrior Awards See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr David Lloyd talks to Mike about flu jabs, and new face mask rules. Christopher Snowdon speaks about junk food adverts are to be banned after the 9pm watershed. Simon Calder reports from Vertine in Tuscany giving Mike the latest from the travel industry. Finishing the week, Mike and Marta hand out the Perrior Awards. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Colonel Richard Kemp joins us to celebrate VE Day. Mike disagrees with Christopher Snowdon from the IEA over our freedom in lockdown. Plus, we catch up with former Royal Editor of The Sun Charles Rae. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is the World Health Organisation fit for purpose? We ask Christopher Snowdon from the Institute of Economic Affairs and Professor Karol Sikora, who used to run their cancer programme. Plus, we catch up with Conservative MP Matt Vickers. And celebrity chef Barry Vera teaches us how to poach an egg. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With Toby Young, William Cook, Henry Newman, Freddy Gray, Christopher Snowdon, Professor Graham MacGregor and Professor Francesco Rubino. Presented by Isabel Hardman.