Public Health Intervention/Legislation Flashcards
Outline the Smoking Ban.
Implemented in July 2007.
Against the law to smoke in any enclosed public space in England.
Ireland have had the same law since 2004. Also Italy and Scotland implemented smoking bans.
What is the effect of the smoking ban?
reduces the likelihood of common cues (e.g. pubs/restaurants) being associated with smoking.
Evaluate the smoking ban.
Displacement - people compensate by smoking elsewhere (e.g. at home). Legislation is ineffective - people are not smoking less, they are just not doing it in public.
Encourages group solidarity/’shared wickedness’ among smokers who huddle together outside of pubs. legislation is inappropriate - encourages initiation by making smoking seem more attractive.
Research shows the effectiveness of the ban -
half of the smokers tried to quit in 2007. 8% of these said the new law prompted their decision to quit.
After the ban in Ireland in 2004, 80% of smokers said the ban encouraged them to quit. 88% of those remained non-smokers.
legislation is effective - more people are encouraged to quit because of it.
Outline the Gambling Act 2007.
Affected all commercial activities that are regarded as gambling - e.g. casinos, online gambling.
gambling is only allowed in the UK if the establishment has a permitted license, provided by the government.
What is the effect of the Gambling Act?
licenses allow the government to regulate who/where is allowing gambling - whether it is a local betting shop or online gambling organisation.
Considers the demographics/social status of the area - e.g. manchester super casino was rejected because the government thought that the introduction of a casino would not be appropriate for the economy, no matter how many jobs it would create.
Evaluate the Gambling Act.
The act cannot completely stop people from gambling - they will just do it somewhere else or go online. Supported by the biological model - D2A1 suggests that gambling is innate, therefore the act cannot prevent someone from gambling.
Practical applications - government can ensure that there are fewer opportunities to gamble in areas of high deprivation.
Outline Bans/Restrictions on Advertising.
Adverts aim to promote drinking and gambling by portraying them as attractive or sophisticated.
2003 ban on advertisements of cigarettes and alcohol. advertisers argued that their adverts were not aiming to encourage addiction, but instead to get people to switch brands.
Linked to SLT - bans mean less chance for observational learning of addiction.
Evaluate bans/restrictions on advertising.
In the UK, the money spent on advertising rose from 150 million to 250 million from 1989 - 2000. Strong correlation between advertising and under-14 drinking. Suggests that restrictions on advertising can affect addiction.
Does not account for other factors in addiction such as learning from parents rather than advertisements in the media.
