Welcome to Britain, a land where rules, regulation and taxes are one of the few growth industries. In recent days, the government has decided that companies will no longer be allowed to decide freely at which price they can sell alcohol – there will be a minimum price, hurting those who enjoy two-for-one deals. Our rulers have also decided that there will be a maximum rate of interest on some loans; a drastic reduction in the number of tariffs energy companies can offer (what next? Fewer mobile phone tariffs, or limits on choice in supermarkets?); and we will find out today whether newspapers will be regulated by statute. There may be public support for all of these anti-libertarian rules. But they will be rife with unintended consequences, with social costs greater than social benefits.