Join the FMF for the the livestream launch of South Africa’s Tobacco Bill: A Case-Study in Anti-Democratic Lawmaking, by Nicholas Woode-Smith, Associate of the Free Market Foundation. This paper provides a detailed examination of how the proposed Tobacco Bill undermines democratic processes through flawed consultation, biased assessments, and an alarming transfer of regulatory power to unelected officials. It highlights how the Bill’s provisions, including sweeping restrictions, punitive penalties, and unchecked ministerial authority, risk eroding both constitutional safeguards and the role of public participation.

We will explore the paper’s key findings, including the Bill’s disregard for harm reduction, its neglect of economic and social consequences, and its failure to address South Africa’s illicit tobacco market. More than a health policy, the Tobacco Bill represents a serious challenge to democratic accountability and legislative integrity.

We invite members of the media, policymakers, and the public to join the conversation and engage with these critical issues at the livestream launch.