SOCIAL ISSUES - health inequality

Question 1

alcohol
life style choice
PEE

Answer 1

• many people argue the harm people do to themselves is at their own fault
• people choose to damage their health by drinking alcohol
• alcohol related harm is a significant problem in Scotland as many people choose to incorporate drinking into their social lives
• 90% of males and 87% of females in Scotland drink alcohol which links directly to health inequality
• binge drinking culture
• leads to a serious number of health issues
  EG - Scottish men and women are 2x more likely to die of alcohol related harm than those in England

Question 2

alcohol
is it a lifestyle choice?
REE

Answer 2

• despite arguments that it is the individuals choice to drink, there is clear evidence that living in deprivation will increase the pressures to drink
• alcohol is often abused by people who are poor as a way from ‘escaping’ their poverty
• higher levels of physical & mental struggles > more drinking issues
• deprived communities see fewer facilities such as golf clubs, social clubs, gyms & community centres > results in socialising in pubs in which have a drinking expectation
  EG - health Scotland reports that the level of alcohol-specific death for the in the most deprives areas of Scotland was 8x higher than for those in the least deprived areas

Question 3

smoking
lifestyle choice
PEE

Answer 3

• smoking issues well known
• packaging is designed to deter people away from smoking > is ignored
• by choosing to smoke you risk addiction and making it more likely for yourself to suffer serious health issues
• smoking can push people to use other products containing nicotine > such as vapes - new product, longterm health issues unknown
  EG - scotlands anti-smoking charity (ASH) found that there are almost 10,000 smoking related deaths in Scotland each year (16%) of all deaths and around 100,000 smoking related hospital admissions annually

Question 4

smoking
is it a lifestyle choice?
REE

Answer 4

• ASH Scotland highlights that smoking is a poverty related problem
• those who are low income or struggling in poverty may turn to smoking as a way to suppress their hunger as an alternative to spending money on food
• smoking may be one of the only joys for them in a tough lifetsyle
• wealthier people are much more able to afford the cost of anti-smoking support to help them quit
• by 2021 32% of adults living in the most deprived areas of Scotland smoke compared to only 6% of those in the least deprived areas of scotland
• vaping also has links with poverty
  EG - 13% of children in the most deprived areas of Scotland were vaping compared to 3% in the most affluent areas

Question 5

diet
lifestyle choice
PEE

Answer 5

• obesity currently costs the NHS £6.5billion a year
• recent statistics also show that obese individuals cost the NHS twice as much compared to those classed as a healthy weight
• poor diet choices > lead to negative health issues
• households are more likely to consume takeout food than ever due to delivery apps
• ready made and processed foods convenience is overused
• Scotland’s obesity issue is major
  EG - around 2/3rds of adults are overweight while almost 1/3rd are obese.

Question 6

diet
is it a lifestyle choice
REE

Answer 6

• data produced in Scotland shows that poverty likely as a role to play in poor diet
• many people are restricted in their choices of food due to financial struggles
• it is often the case that healthy and nutritious food is more expensive than unhealthy food
• poverty may force people to prioritise spending money on a high calorie and filling food that is cheaper rather than than healthier options that are more expensive
  EG - data from children in Scotland indicates that children living in the most deprived parts of Scotland are twice as likely to be at risk of obesity than those living in the least deprived parts of Scotland