Things I Prefer in the UK

Although the United States likes to present itself to both its citizens and the world as the best country in the world, it is far from that. The government in the United States has failed to adequately address many issues, such as gun violence, healthcare, and the climate crisis. Coming to the United Kingdom, I expected to experience a similar level of government indecision and inaction, but this was not the case. Here are some of the things that I was pleasantly surprised by.

Plastic Bag Fee

The first time that I went shopping in London, I was shocked when the self checkout asked me how many plastic bags I had taken, and proceeded to charge me an additional fee for each bag I had used. This was thanks to a government scheme attempting to reduce use of single use bags, due to their environmental impact. Essentially, the UK government requires that retailers charge a minimum of 10p for single use bags, with proceeds going to good causes. The idea behind this is that the monetary burden of these bags will force consumers to reconsider and adapt their shopping habits. This has been extremely effective, reducing their usage by 95%.

In contrast, in America, plastic bags are used as frequently and mindlessly as water. A retailer that exemplifies this ethos is Walmart; if you choose to use Walmart’s click and collect service, they will only put one of your items in each plastic bag, contributing to a huge environmental impact. Generally, if you request to use a reusable bag at a shop in America, you are treated as a nuisance. Many stores even banned their usage during COVID-19. America’s environmental impact is harrowing, and very little is being done to address it on a large scale.

Smoking Campaigns 

Something else that I have been impressed by here are the public health campaigns. The first one that caught my attention was the tobacco packaging. As my friend pulled out a cigarette, she cringed, forced to look at packaging that displayed how a baby had been impacted by his mother’s smoking. This type of packaging forces consumers to be confronted with the negative effects of smoking each time they take part in the habit. This is thanks to government regulations that were introduced in 2008. More recently, goals to make the UK smoke free by 2030 have been announced. However, they have led to controversy and it is unclear whether this will actually happen.

In contrast, the U.S. government has tried to reduce smoking through prohibition and financial control. Cigarettes are heavily taxed on both the state and federal levels. Additionally, the government has banned products, including flavored vapes and menthol in cigarettes. However, I have observed that these actions have done little to change consumer behavior. Individuals continue to pay high prices, and switch to different products in response to bans. The U.S. government is focused on making nicotine products more difficult to get, rather than educating the public. 

Food Regulations

As someone who has several food allergies and tries to eat a relatively balanced diet, I have to read food labels before I buy products. This habit made me notice that most U.S. food products have very lengthy lists of ingredients, often including fillers, preservatives, and dyes. Finding a bread with just water, yeast, flour, and salt is near impossible. Therefore, I do most of my shopping at expensive health food stores like Whole Foods and avoid highly processed foods as much as possible. This food environment is the result of very little regulation of food production in the U.S. Many ingredients that are banned in the UK and have proven negative health risks are commonplace in the U.S. because they lengthen shelf life and make products cheaper to produce.

However, while being here, I have been able to easily shop at conventional stores like Tesco and Sainsburys. This is thanks to the regulations around food additives. The Food Standards Agency ensures that additives are approved by the EU, are safe and benefit consumers. As a result, processed foods in the UK have much shorter ingredient lists than those in the U.S. This rigorousness in approval makes me feel much better about eating processed foods and helps protect the overall health of the country. 

Gun Violence Legislation

During my orientation here, a police officer came to speak to us about safety. I was shocked when he admitted that, despite his decades of experience, he had never handled a gun. This is likely because the U.K. government imposed strong regulations and restrictions in response to the Dunblane school massacre of 1996.  Handguns are banned and rifles and shotguns must be licensed. While being here, I have felt much safer knowing that guns are rare to come across.

In contrast, shootings are a massive issue in America. According to the Sandy Hook Promise, 12 children die each day from gun violence in America. Guns are very accessible, and the government has failed to take action in response. Most people that I know have been personally been affected by gun violence in some way. At my high school, someone threatened to shoot up the school and we were still expected to come to school that day. Every time that I am in a large public space, a little voice in my head thinks about the possibility of a shooting occurring.

These different reactions reflect different cultures and beliefs around how problems should be solved. In the states, the government avoids making divisive, controversial, or controlling moves. Our country’s strong value of personal freedom and choice stands in the way of ending serious issues that harm the population at large. In contrast, the UK government and people are more open to regulation and controversy if they can see it being to the benefit of the population at large. With gun violence and climate change being serious issues that are virtually unaddressed in America, perhaps we should shift the way we address issues and learn a bit from the UK.