Explain how Social Changes Affect Policy Development (AC 4.1)

Question 1

How and why did opinions change on Drink Driving? Include:
-Opinions over time
-How these opinions changed
-The Introduced legislation

Answer 1

Public attitudes were tolerant of drink driving at it was not seen as serious, but as data on the links between fatal/ serious crashes linked to alcohol intake the public’s concern grew. The Road Safety Act 1967 provided a legal limit of alcohol drivers could not go over.

Question 2

How and why did opinions change on Homosexuality? Include:
-Opinions over time
-How these opinions changed
-The Introduced legislation

Answer 2

Homosexulaity was viewed as morally wrong and so was punishable by law in the UK, until the 1967 Sexual Offences Act which legalised homosexuality between two men over 21. This change was due to the cultural changes in society’s norms as religion was becoming less influential (secularisation) and more people saw homosexulaity as a personal matter irrelevant to the law.

Question 3

How and why did opinions change on Smoking Tobacco? Include:
-Opinions over time
-How these opinions changed
-The Introduced legislation

Answer 3

Smoking was first seen as trendy, with many celebrities and movie stars also smoking, and even doctors promoting it for health benefits. After the 1964 Surgeon General report that linked smoking to diseases like cancer warnings started to appear on cigarette packages (1965), and over time legislation such as the Health Act 2006 which banned smoking in public spaces.

Question 4

Examples of social change (at least 3)

Answer 4

• globalisation
• secularisation
• change in the status of women
• increasing technology
• newer education on health
• changing social norms