Social Control of Tobacco and Alcohol
SOCI 38 Social Control Essay Assignment
Topic chosen: Tobacco and alcohol
Consumption of tobacco and alcohol has long been proven to be harmful to one’s health, however it should be considered one’s liberty to smoke or drink and such acts are not considered “illegal” under laws. However, many countries have implement social control mechanisms in regulating smoking or drinking behavior, which raises controversy in the sense that smoking and drinking could be seen as “norms” in social gatherings. This essay is divided into two parts: the first part attempts to justify the need for social control for tobacco and alcohol using various sociological theories and studies; while the second part describes the mechanism of social control on this issue in the context of Hong Kong in detail.
Definition of Social Control
Before justifying the need of social control for smoking and alcohol consumption, it is necessary to understand the definition of social control. The Oxford Dictionary of Sociology defines social control as social processes that regulate behavior of individuals or groups into conforming to norms and values in society. Edward Ross was known for pioneering the concept of social control, he defines it a purposive ascendency over individual aims and interests through definite and organized means to uphold social interest and function (Ross, 1986). According to Black (1976), social control includes the definition of deviance as well as the responses to deviance; while Cohen (1985) claimed that social control is an organized response towards deviance; while Meier argues that there are three functions of social control: serving as a description of social processes, mechanism to ensure compliance and social stability, as well as a method to study social order (Meier, 1982).
Justifying Social Control
Hobbes on Social Control
In Leviathan (1651) by Thomas Hobbes, he assumes that men are all equal and selfish, and such selfish desires drives men into a state
Topic chosen: Tobacco and alcohol
Consumption of tobacco and alcohol has long been proven to be harmful to one’s health, however it should be considered one’s liberty to smoke or drink and such acts are not considered “illegal” under laws. However, many countries have implement social control mechanisms in regulating smoking or drinking behavior, which raises controversy in the sense that smoking and drinking could be seen as “norms” in social gatherings. This essay is divided into two parts: the first part attempts to justify the need for social control for tobacco and alcohol using various sociological theories and studies; while the second part describes the mechanism of social control on this issue in the context of Hong Kong in detail.
Definition of Social Control
Before justifying the need of social control for smoking and alcohol consumption, it is necessary to understand the definition of social control. The Oxford Dictionary of Sociology defines social control as social processes that regulate behavior of individuals or groups into conforming to norms and values in society. Edward Ross was known for pioneering the concept of social control, he defines it a purposive ascendency over individual aims and interests through definite and organized means to uphold social interest and function (Ross, 1986). According to Black (1976), social control includes the definition of deviance as well as the responses to deviance; while Cohen (1985) claimed that social control is an organized response towards deviance; while Meier argues that there are three functions of social control: serving as a description of social processes, mechanism to ensure compliance and social stability, as well as a method to study social order (Meier, 1982).
Justifying Social Control
Hobbes on Social Control
In Leviathan (1651) by Thomas Hobbes, he assumes that men are all equal and selfish, and such selfish desires drives men into a state
Bibliography: Black, D. (1976). The Behavior of Law. Academic Press: New York. Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap. 562), 2012. Broadcasting Authority Ordinance, (Cap. 391), 2012. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (November 15, 2012) Health effects of Secondhand Smoke. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/health_effects/index.htm Cohen, S. (1985). Visions of Social Control: Crime, Punishment and Classification. Polity Press Press: Cambridge Demers, D Dutiable Commodities (Liquor) Regulations (Cap. 109), 2010. Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offenses) Ordinance (Cap. 600), 2009. Health Care and Promotion Fund. (2007). Final Report HCPF: Non-Research Health Promotion Projects – Inter-school Anti Smoking Campaign 2006-2007. Retrieved from: http://fhbgrants.netsoft.net/report/20060894fr.pdf Hobbes, T. (1651). Of the Natural Condition of Mankind & Of the Cause, Generation and Definition of a Commonwealth, Leviathan, Locke, J Meier, R. F. (1982). Perspectives on the Concept of Social Control. Annual Review of Sociology. Vol. 8, pp. 35-55 Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap Ross, E. A. (1986). Social Control. American Journal of Sociology 1: 513-535. Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), 2012 Williams, F World Health Organization. (2003). Tools for Advancing Tobacco Control in the XXIst century: Policy Recommendations for Smoking cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence