Assignment Sample on How United Kingdom and Japan have Implmented Anti-smoking Policy
Introduction
Lung cancer is one of the most trending issues that has no probable cure when detected at a later stage. In 2018, highest rate of lung cancer in UK was 32.5% and around 30.2% of UK women suffered from lung cancer (wcrf.org, 2020). According to American Cancer Society, 5-year relative survival rate for lung cancer in particular is 60% (Cancer.org, 2020). It has been detected that in UK and Japan lung cancer has rapidly increased and a number of factors are responsible for lung cancer. This study has critically evaluated possibilities of risk arising in lung cancer and policies undertaken by Government to demolish it.
The risk of smoking and lung cancer
It is addressed that smoking cigarettes is one of the major reasons for lung cancer and using tobacco materials like cigars and pipes also increase risk of lung cancer. Due to smoking, infused elements like tar affects lungs of smokers. It has been found that patients of lung cancers are either direct- chain smokers or they are affected by passive smoking in their surroundings. Smoking not only affects lungs but it also affects voice box of human beings. Lung cancer situation got worse because of neglecting early symptoms of lung cancer.
Identification of countries for critical assessment
Increasing rate of lung cancer in UK and Japan have created tensions among doctors and Cancer Society. In Japan and UK, there is increasing work pressure caused by adopting new technological advancement and people of UK and Japan rapidly increased smoking for this reason. People in both countries smoke to avoid extensive mental pressure and workload. In UK, smoking prevalence across UK population translates into huge differences in death rates and illness rate. On the other hand, smoking rate among men has increased over 50% in 2001 and in 2018 of 25% due to work pressure (Japan-guide, 2020). Increasing amount of emission from market into the working atmosphere causes situation to decline and individuals are also selected to locate awareness and participation.
Understanding the laws issued against smoking to eradicate lung cancer
In UK and Japan, Government has taken several anti-smoking policies to reduce impact of smoking and reduce risk of lung cancer. Both countries are concentrating on banning smoking and tobacco sales within their territories which are addressed as a better step by measuring its adoption. UK Government has taken “Simsmoke ” policy by keeping in mind number of male smokers in the UK (Levy et al. 2012). In 1st July, 2007 a legislation was implemented in UK Health Act 2006 to make smoking illegal in public places or substantially enclosed in areas and workplaces (Smokefreeengland.co.uk, 2020). UK Government Has taken Tax policy to increase cigarette price index and those taxes measures in percentage. For increasing tax rates on cigarettes, manufacturing has fallen from 21% to 15% and proportion of adults in Britain who were chain smokers has fallen from more than one in four, to one in six (Ash.org.uk, 2020).
In Japan, smoke free guidance is provided in Industrial Health Act, Health Promotion Act to establish a healthy working environment. As per Tobacco Business Act of 1984 of Japan addressing health warnings, tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion is prevented. Japan became a member of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005 (Tobaccocontrollaws.org, 2020). Furthermore, Japanese Government is engaged to raise awareness by educating people to understand harmful effects of smoking and lung cancer (sugawa et al. 2017). Act of prohibiting smoking by minors of 1900 prevents sales of tobacco products under age of 20. Mix music themes have been selected for administering challenges of tobacco smoking. It has been noticed that during pandemic situation, Japanese Government banned indoor smoking to avoid rising impact of passive smoking which also caused lung cancer.
Effectiveness of laws implemented in the countries
The policies and laws which are implemented to reduce impact of smoking and lung cancer in Japan and UK are suggested to involve non-governmental organisations like Action on Smoking and Health (AHS) public health charity. This organization participates in raising voices about smoking and lung cancer and obeying laws and regulations of smoking to people. In addition, it helps to identify lung cancer in early stages and work with the Government ministry to look after inhabitants. In UK, an introduction of smoke free legislation has positively impacted on health at the individual and population level. It has been reported that in July and august 2007, 8.6% smokers quit smoking in UK after laws were applied in smoking (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk, 2020). In Japan, after banning public smoking rate of smoking decreased to 18.2% from 49% in last ten years of total population (Smokefreeworld.org, 2020).
Areas that still needed to be addressed
Government of UK and Japan have implemented several laws and legislation to reduce impact of smoking and chances of lung cancers but there are loopholes which affect people and it cannot properly raise awareness about smoking. In Japan, there is a minimum penalty for public smoking which constantly promotes public smoking and there are minimum restrictions of laws about passive smoking. In UK, restrictions of sales of tobacco products are not strictly implemented which promotes smoking.
Recommendation
In order to increase effectiveness of laws and policies about smoking both UK and Japan Government needs to implement strict regulations. In UK, Government should increase penalties for public smoking and should restrict public sales of tobacco products to prohibit smoking. UK Government needs to campaign on a quarterly basis to raise awareness about smoking and educate people not to use it. It is important for both countries to look after mental health of people to reduce smoking and for this reason laws must include mental health to prevent smoking for work pressure (Richardson et al. 2019). In Japan, advertisements should be banned and public selling of tobacco products should be banned.
Conclusion
From the above study, it can be concluded that both Governments of UK and Japan are taking major steps to eradicate lung cancer and smoking. Excessive mental stress, work pressure is one of the biggest reasons for increasing smoking in both countries. Though, there are some loopholes in legislation and laws if smoking but effectiveness of these legislation cannot be denied. Furthermore, this study has provided certain recommendations such as restrictions of public selling of tobacco products to increase effectiveness of smoking laws.
References
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk, (2020). “Effectiveness of smoking policies in UK” Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/216319/dh_124959.pdf [Accessed on 10th June, 2021]
Cancer.org, (2020). “Lung cancer in the UK and Japan.” Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html [Accessed on 10th June, 2021]
Japan-guide, (2020). “Work pressure and smoking rate in Japan.” Available at: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2228.html [Accessed on 10th June, 2021]
Levy, D., Currie, L., & Clancy, L. (2012). Tobacco control policy in the UK: blueprint for the rest of Europe?. The European Journal Of Public Health, 23(2), 201-206.
Richardson, S., McNeill, A. and Brose, L.S., (2019). Smoking and quitting behaviours by mental health conditions in Great Britain (1993–2014). Addictive behaviors, 90, pp.14-19.
Smokefreeengland.co.uk, (2020). “Smoking legislation in UK.” Available at: http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/what-do-i-do/quick-guide/ [Accessed on 10th June, 2021]
Smokefreeworld.org, (2020). “Effectiveness of smoking policies in Japan” Available at: https://www.smokefreeworld.org/health-science-technology/health-science-technology-agenda/data-analytics/global-state-of-smoking-landscape/state-smoking-japan/ [Accessed on 10th June, 2021]
sugawa, Y., Hashimoto, K., Tabuchi, T., & Shibuya, K. (2017). What can Japan learn from tobacco control in the UK?. The Lancet, 390(10098), 933-934. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140- 6736(17)32169-4
Tobaccocontrollaws.org, (2020). “Smoking legislation in Japan.” Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/japan/summary
wcrf.org, (2020). “Lung cancer rate in UK.” Available at: https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/lung-cancer-statistics/ [Accessed on 10th June, 2021]
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