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Stefan Wulf
Lisa Duffy
ArgumentativeEssay
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11-05-2016
10426749
3. UPC0002 ArgumentativeEssay
Stefan Wulf ID # 10426749 Page 1 of 5
UPC0002 ARGUMENTATIVEESSAY
Running Head: UPC0002 Argumentative Essay
UPC0002 Argumentative Essay
Is there a Case for a Smokers Licence?
Stefan Wulf (10426749)
Academic Writing (UPC0002)
Edith Cowan University
19th
April 2016
4. UPC0002 ArgumentativeEssay
Stefan Wulf ID # 10426749 Page 2 of 5
The practicalityof the proposedideaof a smoking license is unsustainable; however, positive
steps are being taken to curb the consumption of tobacco in Australia. Chapman, (2012),
suggests that a smoker's license or smart card be implemented to stem the consumption of
tobacco inAustralia. Many would argue against the implementation of a smoker’s license or
smart card by legislation intothe Australian community(Collins,2012). There have beenmany
successes in curbing the consumption of tobacco in Australia by tax increases and media
advertisingdisplayingthe risksof smoking(Collins, 2012). However,bythe implementation of
a Smoker’s Licence orsmart card, this will continue to increase the stigmatization of smokers
as well as marginalize the poor. According to Collins, (2012), the answer is not to radically
reshape the structure of retailing tobacco by using methods, as discussed below, which are
starkly targeted towards the consumers. The practicality of the proposed idea by Chapman
(2012), of a smoker's license, is unsustainable and poses questions of the public’s right to
choose their own lifestyle (Chapman, 2012).
The case for a smoking license willincrease the stigmatizationandmarginalization of the poor
(Collins, 2012). The tobacco industry is indirectly responsible for the death of millions of
people around the world each year. Therefore, we must keep working together to decrease
the consumptionof tobaccoin a waythat doesnot putoverwhelmingfinancial pressure onthe
poor. Many achievementshave beenaccomplished todate;however,more needs to be done
in a way that is supportive of the consumer, instead of a continuing trend that is focused on
taxation and judgment. Chapman, (2012) proposes to increase the financial impediment on
the consumerwhichleadsto the suggestion thatthe introduction of Chapman’s (2012) scheme
would be viewedas a way to raise revenue from a group that has already been marginalized.
The implementation of a smoker’s license or a smart card would leave many smokers to feel
segregated, and non-smokers regarding smokers as registered addicts. Unfortunately, this
factor seemstobe a keyfeature of the scheme proposedbyChapman, (2012). The noticeable
and fundamental social gradientsof smoking inmainstreamsociety’s attitude towards tobacco
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control is oftenmeasured andcharacterized bytaxation toreduce consumption. Collin, (2012)
suggeststhattargetingsmokerswoulddramaticallyexacerbate the ideology that the smoking
community is a source of ongoing revenue, without taking into account the negative social
impacts and pressure it puts on families. Chapman, (2012) proposal seems reasonable in
theory that a scheme such as this could further curtail tobacco consumption in some
countries. The ideaof licensingsmoker’s raisescompellingconcernand the obviousquestions
and principles along with the practicality of which tobacco control must engage (Collins J,
2012).
The introductionof a smoking license could be considered an intrusion of basic human rights
(Crone et al., 2012). The ideaof enforcingascheme to license smoker’s leavesthe question of
whether basic civil liberties and human rights of choice are being obstructed (Healey, 2012).
Mackay, (2015) suggeststhata large numberof people who smoke in social environments do
not class themselves as smokers; however, this does not mean they do not share the same
negative stereotypes. Chapmans, (2012) proposal mentions that the revenue raised by
licensingfeescould be used towards the medical costassociatedwithsmoking;however,there
are othersocial healthconcernssuchas the rise inobesity inAustraliathatposesconsiderable
pressure onthe healthsystem(Healey,J2012). Itis people’s independent choice to consume
alcohol andtobacco as both are legal substances. Smoke-free laws physically divide smokers
fromnon-smokers bymeansof removingthemselvestoa differentarea.Ithasbeensuggested
that smokerswhoalreadyfeel of stigmatizedandof a lowerclassare viewed as‘lepers’(Crone
et al., 2012). Chapmans, (2012) scheme suggests that every sale would transfer information
into a national database including personal information by the use of a smoker’s smart card.
Understandably,thiscouldbe considered an intrusion into private and personal information.
The costs and issues involved in governing such programs outweigh the benefits (Garner &
Ratschen,2013). The costof the implementationof legislation proposed by Chapmans, (2012)
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isunethical asfar as practicalityandthe cost associatedwithreinforcingsucha scheme aswell
as offering additional support and serveries to the disadvantaged. Smoking in rural parts of
Australia indigenous community’s exceeds 90 % of the population (Thomas et al., 2013). A
study was conducted after a 12 % taxation increase on tobacco was introduced in 2010 to
research differences in the behavior or consumption among members of these communities
(Thomasetal.,2013). The vast majority of these communities have reported a lack of support
and knowledgeof the dangersof tobacco abuse; the concern is that a large number of people
living within indigenous and wider communities where smoking is prevalent are of
disadvantaged andlower income (Thomas et al., 2013). Thomas (2013) reports that there is a
strong concern that communities such as these are more sensitive to price increases.
Conclusion
Chapmans, (2012) proposal is unethical and impartible as well as marginalizes the poor it
offersnosupportto the indigenous and wider communities. The idea of all smokers register
themselves to a national database and have to obtain a license or smart card to purchase
tobacco couldbe considered tobe a breachof civil liberties (Collins,2012). It is acknowledged
that the needtodiminishthe use of tobaccois essentialforbetterhealthand standards of life
for our society (Collins, 2012). It’s hard to know whether to be to be impressed by the rapid
changes of legislative laws and achievements in recent history, which drive the message
concerning the dangers of smoking or to be concerned by the social unrest and economic
pressure that drives these damaging behaviors. It is hard to ignore the irony of these factors
that isdrivenbyaddictionandthe ongoingincrease intaxation. Proposalssuch as Chapman’s,
S. (2012) will onlyincreasestereotypical viewsand marginalization of the already weak group
(Collins, 2012).
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References
Chapman,S.(2012). The case for a smoker'slicense. PLoSMedicine,9(11),e1001342.
doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001342
Collin, J. (2012). The case against a smoker's license. PLoS Medicine, 9(11), e1001343.
doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001343
Crone, M. R., Heiden, v. d., S, Gebhardt, W. A., Hitchman, S. C., Putte, v. d., B, Fong, G. T.. .
Willemsen, M. C. (2012). Does smoke-free legislation and smoking outside bars
increase feelings of stigmatization among smokers? Findings from the International
Tobacco Control (ITC) Netherlands survey. Health & Place, 18(6), 1436-1440.
doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.08.001
Garner, L.,& Ratschen,E.(2013). Tobacco smoking,associatedriskbehaviours,andexperience
withquitting:A qualitative studywithhomelesssmokersaddictedtodrugsand
alcohol. BMCPublic Health,13(1), 951-951. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-951
Halim,A.,Hasking,P.,& Allen,F.(2012). The role of social drinkingmotivesinthe relationship
betweensocial normsandalcohol consumption. AddictiveBehaviors,37(12),1335-
1341. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.07.004
Healey,J.(2012). Fastfood.Thirroul,Australia:SpinneyPress.
Mackay, A. (2015). The human rights implications of smoking bans in closed environments:
What Australia may learn from the international experience. International Journal of
Law, Crime and Justice, 1, 1-28. doi:10.1016/j.ijlcj.2015.12.005
Thomas, D. P., Ferguson, M., Johnston, V., & Brimblecombe, J. (2013). Impact and perceptions
of tobacco tax increase in remote Australian aboriginal communities. Nicotine and
Tobacco Research, 15(6), 1099-1106. doi:10.1093/ntr/nts232
