What is important is to recognize the inherent dangers in having government determine what is beneficial to us. For example, I like beer and a good steak. There are do-gooders who see no benefit to me having either. If the answer to your question is NO, they would be justified in having the government prohibit me from consuming either.
I agree that, generally speaking, it is VERY dangerous to allow government determine what is beneficial for us in an unchecked manner. (I've read too many dystopia novels to believe otherwise)
However, government certainly is a necessary component to stable society, is it not? Governments exist to regulate the manner in which a society works so that there can be at least some order in the daily interactions of those who constitute it. Societies need laws if they are to function properly.
The fact is that society has legislative government precisely for the purpose of deciding what is beneficial to society and what is harmful. This is technically what a government does when it passes a law. This also happens to be what is dangerous about government- in its role to decide these things to some degree, it can overstep its bounds and become overly intrusive. Ultimately, this is why the founding fathers, in their brilliance, created our system in the manner which they have. The powers that the government possesses were split so that, when one branch goes beyond what it is permitted, it can be overridden. Politicians that legislate in a manner that tramples the rights of the citizenry are replaced in the next election. When the government as a whole begins to overstep its role the people, if they were wise enough to hold on to them, have recourse to their guns and revolt.
(Lest I fall into a trap I am unwittingly laying for myself, I should add that I believe regulations along the lines I am speaking of should happen on the state or city level, and certainly not on the national level.)
A society without government cannot remain stable. A government without the ability to pass laws is not really a government. A law that does not make any judgement regarding what is "beneficial" and "harmful" to society is not really a law. Government does exist to make judgements such as these. The key is that we remain vigilant and not let it go beyond what is reasonable.