Risk and the law.

We have to buckle up when we drive. We are no longer allowed to take scissors or pocket knives in our hand luggage when we fly. Cars have to fulfil a range of safety requirements to be allowed on the streets. Our food must be free of pathogens or any other harmful residues—fast food shops even label coffee cups to warn consumers that the content is hot. There are many who complain that we now live in a ‘nanny state’ in which the government increasingly polices nearly every aspect of our lives with laws and regulations. This is a response to the risks and hazards that come with new technologies, products and services, and aims to protect consumers and citizens from harm.