Government does not have rights. Only people have rights and being stupid is one of them.
You are correct. Government has the power to protect the health and welfare of its citizens. We expect that because we, the people, cannot possibly know EVERYTHING.
Interesting book out related to this subject: it’s called The Poisoner’s Handbook. This story details the developement of forensic medacine in New York City during Prohibition, and how that department dealth with the huge number of poisonings which occurred.