With the re-introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Parliament, there is a strong likelihood that the sale of tobacco will never be legal to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. This markedly prohibitionist approach prompts an investigation of the current Government approach to three other major sources of addiction: alcohol, gambling and drugs.
There is a considerable disparity in the current policy towards these four areas. In the most recent Budget, the Government affirmed its support for the pubs industry, indicating that impending restrictions are highly unlikely. Turning to gambling, there is currently a wave of reform in the sector, spearheaded by the Gambling Commission, which is focused on protecting the most vulnerable gamblers from harm. Meanwhile, the approach to drugs is governed by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which seeks to criminalise and prohibit designated substances.
Taking these varied approaches into consideration, this report will make three recommendations for the development of future addiction policy. Firstly, policymakers must work to dismantle the stigma that is so prevalent in attitudes towards addiction. Secondly, the principle of harm reduction should be the foremost aim of any policy. Lastly, a more cohesive approach, irrespective of an addiction’s source, would facilitate knowledge sharing and adhere to the urgency of this ever mounting public health crisis.
Image source: Alex.ch, Flickr, licensed under CC