MAIN BODY - OPTION 2 Flashcards
Suggestion?
My second suggestion for tackling the smoking crisis in Scotland is to reduce cigarette display.
Reducing the amount of adverts and ensuring that cigarette displays are hidden behind counters and are covered would decrease the amount of smokers there are (Source 4)
The government have said it themselves that hiding cigarettes and putting them off display will in hope reduce the amount of smokers there is. The temptation to buy is bigger when you can see them in your sight, however, if they are hidden away this will shrink the attention. That only briefly outlines how the smoking crisis can fall. If cigarettes were locked up in cabinets where they could only be seen if asked for, this would mean fewer people would feel the need to buy them as they are not so easy to get.
A BBC Report had said “A ban on displaying cigarettes and tobacco at shop counters has reduced the risk of young people taking up smoking, according to a new study” (BK)
To further discuss, this shows young smokers would rather not go through the hassle of buying cigarettes if they are hidden. This in the hope would create new social norms to the extent that there would be less youth smoking. It is expected that with cigarettes being locked in cabinets or with warning signs in front, people will think twice as instead of going straight for the packet they have slightly longer to debate whether they want to buy it or not.
Another essential point to be made is that Kate Wighton said that “Removing displays of tobacco products from shops may have reduced the proportion of children buying cigarettes by 17 per cent” (BK)
The key aspect is discussed yet again, withdrawing cigarette display shows that it will reduce the amount of the product being bought. It has been shown in three different sources that banning the display is not only one of the best ways to reduce smoking as the costs for this are extremely low but it also turns people away from buying. Visual triggers are the leading part of why people get addicted, which is why ensuring cigarette packs are hidden behind counters and out of sight will significantly reduce smoking as many will not think about having to buy them if they are not in a person’s point of view.
EVALUATION
I am willing to accept that this option does not guarantee to stop high smoking rates as there is some justified criticism of such a proposal. A counter argument to this is that those who cannot go long (e.g. a day) without tobacco will continue to buy them as the addiction is trapped in their brain, even with cigarettes hidden or with a warning image at the front those who are truly addicted will not stop obtaining them. (BK) However, I do believe this option does merit some serious consideration as it will particularly decrease the amount of young smokers there are.
