IEA Lifestyle Taxes Poll

A new poll for the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) conducted by ComRes finds significant opposition to sin taxes and majority agreement that the government should not interfere in individuals’ lifestyle choices.

HEADLINE FIGURES

Seven in ten (70%) British adults say it should be the individual’s responsibility to make their own lifestyle choices and the government should not interfere. Looking at those expressing a preference, this figure rises to over 80%.

Half of Britons (51%) believe indirect taxes are too high, this rises to seven in ten (69%) among only those who declared a preference. Eight in ten (78%) giving an opinion believe they hit the poorest the hardest.

A majority of Britons believe the government should not offer financial incentives to people who are trying to lose weight (61%), stop smoking (60%) or stop drinking excessively (62%).

UKIP voters are the most hostile to government intervention on lifestyle choices across the board.

Date Published: 27/12/2014

Categories: Finance | Public and communities | Social | UK

Client: IEA

Methodology

ComRes interviewed 4,135 British adults online between 9th and 14th September 2014. Data were weighted to be representative of all GB adults aged 18+.