An Ounce for Prevention ... Germany's Public Policy on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

This section discusses the regulation of "lifestyle risks", a term that can apply to both substances and behaviours. Lifestyle risks take place along the line of "abstinence - consumption - abuse - addiction". This can concern substances such as food, alcohol or drugs, as well as behaviours such as gambling or sports. The section also addresses the question of the appropriate point of equilibrium between free choice and state intervention (regulation), as well as the question of when risks can be considered to be acceptable or tolerable. In line with the interdisciplinary scope of the journal, the section aims at updating readers on both the regulatory and the scientific developments in the field. It analyses legislative initiatives and judicial decisions and at the same time it provides insight into recent empirical studies on lifestyle risks.