Monday 2 February 2015

Cops, clubs and breathalysers

I've written a post for the IEA lifestyle blog about the proliferation of breathalysers at nightclubs.

Police in London have followed the lead of their counterparts in Norwich and Loughborough by forming a partnership with nightclub owners to breathalyse customers on the door. This initiative has been criticised for combining the infantilisation of the nanny state with the intrusiveness of Big Brother. And so it does, but few have commented on its most objectionable aspect, which is that it is a shameless piece of rent-seeking. It is a straightforward example of corporate interests working with the state to enrich themselves at the expense of their customers and competition.

Do read the rest.

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