Governmental attempts to reduce smoking within the population
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6 pages
Governmental attempts to reduce smoking within the populationHow to reduce smokers is an actual question for most governments. This policy is a result of a growing concern for the health hazards of tabacco and a following general trend to reduce smoking in the most developed countries.
Indeed, the « smoking problem » within the population is one of the most important health subject in the society.
In this essay i will focus on the french smoking problem.
Why is it a topic of public policy?
Public policy refers to government decisions and actions intended to address perceived public problem. As smoking causes costs that have to be carried by the whole society and not just by the individual smoker such as growing costs for health insurances it must be regarded as a public problem. By raising taxes and/or passing laws to regulate smoking within the society the several governments try to solve this problem. Because of this the solving of this public problem is a topic of public policy.
Significant data about smoking in France
First of all, we can have a look at this alarming french statistics about tabacco.
Every year, in France 100 billion cigarettes are smoked by more than 14 million of smokers. That’s means around 25% of the whole population smoke (one person for fourth are smoker). Moreover, 50% of the population between 18 and 34 years old are smokers which is a very alarming number as 82 % of the adult smokers started smoking before they turned 20.
Which are the consequences for the public health ?
More than 66 000 deaths per year are related to tobacco in France. The problem is also about the passive smoker, indeed passive smoking kills every year 3000 to 5000 which represents 13 deaths per day.
Market failure occuring because of smoking
The french economic market is a « free market » so it can normally work without the interference of the government. Nevertheless, there is one type of market failure occuring because of