One of the main areas in which its clear the Government has began to tackle Health Inequalities influenced by people’s lifestyle would be the Smoking ban. The ban was first introduced to Scotland on 26th March 2006. Also referred to as “Clearing the Air Scotland” – its aim was to ban people from smoking in enclosed public areas e.g. Public Houses, Restaurants and Hotels. A year on, evidence had shown that the ban was seen to be a success. From a study of nine Scottish hospitals there was a reported 17% fall in heart attacks, 39% reduction of exposure to second hand smoke in adult non-smokers and Cigarette sales had fallen by a whopping 13%. Health Minister at that time, Andy Kerr stated:
“People across the country are using the ban as an incentive to give up smoking. Others are simply enjoying the opportunity to go out and socialise without having to breathe in second hand smoke.”
Since the Smoking Ban in 2006 there have been further Government policies to reduce smoking, mainly in young adults. On the 5th October 2006 the decision was made that an increase on the legal age to buy tobacco from 16 to 18 was going to be put in place. It came after executive statistics indicated that 4% of 13-year-olds and an average of around 15% of 15-year-olds were regular smokers. Even though studies have shown that among 15-year-olds, smoking had declined from a peak in 1996; from both 30% for boys and girls to 12% for boys and 18% for girls the percentages still remain high.
Alcohol misuse and abuse also causes health problems throughout. It is thought that it costs Scotland around £2.25bn a year on bingeing, and alcohol-related deaths are at an all time high of 1,500 a year. Scotland has now been ranked 8th in the worlds highest alcohol consumption rate, with statistics of 11.8 litres of pure alcohol per head.
With the statistics shown above going up constantly and as it is proven that bingeing, underage drinking and alcoholism all have negative health consequences the UK Government has stepped up efforts to reduce these inequalities by introducing minimum pricing of alcohol and a ban on 2-for-1 price-cut deals, it has meant that Scotland has become the first country in the EU to place a fixed alcohol price.
Staying with the Government policies on alcohol other proposals that have now been introduced are ‘Challenge 21’ and ‘Challenge 25’. Challenge 25’ is a retailing strategy that encourages anyone over the age of 18 but who looks under the age of 25 to carry photographic identification if they are contemplating buying alcohol, It builds on the highly successful ‘Challenge 21’ as mentioned before which was developed by the Retail of Alcohol standards Group in 2005. This has proved as an effective tool to tackle underage purchase of alcohol and research has shown that 90% of 18-24 year olds are now aware of the campaign.
The final point I want to state about Government policies on reducing Health Inequalities is based on Social class. It’s reported that there is an average of around a 19% difference of those dying from smoke-related illnesses in the Highest and Lowest Social Strata. Those of Social Classes D and E – the poorest of the social groups – are far more likely to be heavy smokers due to the fact they are part of the cycle of deprivation; poverty, poor housing conditions, lack of resources in health and education, and the issue that they are living in an environment where there are a number of risk factors surrounding smoking in which nicotine addiction comes in, but no changes have been put in place because this is seen to be the ‘norm’ for people of lower social status.
Taking all of my points into consideration, I have came to the conclusion that Yes! Government policies have been effective in reducing Health Inequalities in some areas e.g. lifestyle, but as long as there is such a wide gap in Social Class the Health Gap will remain very large and the improvements wanted by the Government won’t be met until action is taken to lessen these differences.
