Health Secretary Matt Hancock declares war on Nanny State and claims a pint a day is good for you

MATT Hancock declared war on the nanny state yesterday by arguing against a booze tax and saying a pint was “perfectly healthy”.

The Health Secretary added that it was time to stop “punishing” everybody by issuing diktats to the entire nation – and to instead target public health messages to those who need it.

It came as Theresa May prepared to unveil the details of the Government’s £20.5billion, 10-year plan to safeguard the NHS later this morning.

Mr Hancock said a key part of the plan would be to use social media to target messages about junk food, smoking or drinking to those patients who place the heaviest burden on cash-strapped hospitals.

And in a huge victory for campaigners, he said he was against minimum price for alcohol – which has already been introduced in Scotland at 50p per unit.

He told Sky News: “Five per cent of people drank a third of all the alcohol in the country, yet many of us like a nice pint and it’s perfectly healthy.

“I think instead of things like minimum unit pricing that some suggest, we should target measures.”

The blast follows a slew of killjoy moves and proposals from public health officials – such as suggesting a meat tax or extending the sugar tax onto chocolate and crisps.

Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth yesterday confirmed a Jeremy Corbyn Government would tax milkshakes.

Mr Hancock’s comments also come in stark contrast to his predecessor Jeremy Hunt – who last year indicated he was in favour of a minimum price on booze.

And three years ago Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies warned women to think about the risk of developing cancer when they pour themselves a glass of wine.

At the time, she said: “Drinking any level of alcohol regularly carries a health risk for anyone.”

Campaigners yesterday welcomed Mr Hancock’s commitment – but urged him to back it up by axing talk of introducing mandatory calorie counts in restaurants.

Chris Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs told The Sun: “If the Government is serious about helping those who want help without compromising freedom, it should repeal the slew of nanny state policies that have been introduced in the past 15 years.

“And he should shut down Public Health England.”

Sophie Jarvis of the Adam Smith Institute added: “Matt Hancock’s announcement sounds great but the proof will be in the pudding. Literally if he chooses to impose mandatory calorie counts on menus, for example.”

She added: “Clearly within the Conservative Party there’s still a debate between the nanny statists and those who don’t want to micro manage our meals. And for the past few years at least, the nanny statists have reigned supreme.”

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