Alcohol -- link to crime?

[JDPriestly]

Today in the news:
Those living near stores selling alcohol may have an increased risk of being the victim of a violent assault, compared to those who do not.
New research suggests an uptick in alcohol sales may also mean an increase in violence in the neighborhood where the alcohol is sold.

So suggests a new study in which Canadian researchers report that the risk of being hospitalized from a violent assault increases during periods of higher alcohol sales near the victims' homes.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/story?id=4840333&page=1

Some facts about alcohol and crime

• Alcohol availability is closely related to violent assaults. Communities and neighborhoods that have more bars and liquor stores per capita experience more assaults. 1

• Alcohol use is frequently associated with violence between intimate partners. Two-thirds of victims of intimate partner violence reported that alcohol was involved in the incident. 2

• In one study of interpersonal violence, men had been drinking in an estimated 45 percent of cases and women had been drinking in 20 percent of cases. 3

http://www.marininstitute.org/alcohol_policy/violence.htm

Based on published studies, Roizen (3) summarized the percentages of violent offenders who were drinking at the time of the offense as follows: up to 86 percent of homicide offenders, 37 percent of assault offenders, 60 percent of sexual offenders, up to 57 percent of men and 27 percent of women involved in marital violence, and 13 percent of child abusers. These figures are the upper limits of a wide range of estimates. In a community-based study, Pernanen (4) found that 42 percent of violent crimes reported to the police involved alcohol, although 51 percent of the victims interviewed believed that their assailants had been drinking.

http://www.athealth.com/consumer/disorders/angeralcohol.html

This is something to remember. In my work, I hear a lot about domestic violence. Alcohol or methampthetamines are frequently involved. So, if you drink, please drink in moderation.

Most people on DU are political junkies. It's hard to post on DU and drink yourself into a violent state at the same time. This is just a reminder. Not only should you watch what you drink yourself, but you should watch friends/family members who are or have been drinking. Try to keep your distance or just don't get into an argument with someone who has a couple too many. Of course, as the first article points out, a person who is drunk may strike out randomly at just anyone, so being careful is only so helpful.

I just don't want to see DUers getting hurt. Be careful.

[Tesha]

1. In other news: Water found to be "Wet". (NT)

[sasquatch]

2. What is this the 1930's?

I'm more worried about violence by fundamentalist and they're tetotallers BTW.

[madokie]

4. me too sasquatch

Theres a town of about 2000 or so about 20 miles from here who do not have a liquor store. Still have lots of people who drink though and they now have to drive several miles to buy the liquor and some I'm sure, used to drink and do this, are inbibing on the way home, those I worry about too, both for themselves but especially for the innocents. The doo goooders think they're doing good keeping a liquor store out of their town, the fools they are.

[Fumesucker]

19. I guess you've never heard the joke then...

Jews don't recognize Jesus as the son of God.

Protestants don't recognize the Pope as the leader of Christianity.

Baptists don't recognize each other in the liquor store.


Q: How do you keep a Baptist from drinking all your beer on a fishing trip?

A: Take *two* Baptists.

[sasquatch]

21. I heard that one from Bob Kincaid

[ensho]

3. kick

nt

[Warpy]

5. Well, DUH

There's a reason we call it "instant asshole."

Unfortunately, there is also the majority, people who can have one or two drinks in an evening and get a glow of artificial well being that enhances a social experience and then they don't drink for weeks or months.

Eventually we might be able to tell the difference in brain chemistry of the two types of people and be able to develop a vaccine that causes an aversion to instant asshole in the assholes who are susceptible to it.

Until then, we'll just have to cope because we already tried Prohibition and it didn't work.

[Fumesucker]

14. It's lowered inhibitions, not "artificial well being"..

"Mean drunk"

"Don't listen to him, it's the liquor talking"

"Barroom brawl"

"Ten feet tall and bulletproof"

The vernacular is replete with references to the fact that alcohol often causes violent behavior.

Robin Williams on alcohol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j58tcYLfYfY

"Mai Tai, Polynesian word for dumbfuck"..

[Warpy]

15. I guess you don't know any light drinkers.

I'm sorry about that.

[Fumesucker]

17. Alcohol lowers inhibitions..

Even in very moderate doses.

One of the reasons that shy people often like to drink is that it "brings them out of their shell".

Ever heard the term "liquid courage"?

I drink seldom and I haven't been roaring drunk since my birthday in 1980.

[The Straight Story]

6. Second hand drinking affects me - no more drinking in Bars! Or smoking. Or eating....

:rofl:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. What are the statistics on pot?

Other than the basic criminal penalty for possession, does smoking it tend to make people act violently? Does it impair driving and result in a lot of accidents? I don't think so.

That being said, what needs to be done is to educate people about drinking, not take it away. I live in a dry county surrounded by dry counties, and we have a disproportionate number of drunk driving accidents, mostly causing at least one fatality. Trouble with "dry" counties is that the bootleggers sell to anyone, and have no consequences to face other than being busted. When counties are "wet", at least the bar owners know they are legally liable if they allow someone to get drunk.

[JDPriestly]

8. Right!! That is why I posted this. People need to know the facts.

The problem is, as you can see here, that the facts about alcohol are not discussed because when you say something about the link between alcohol and violent crime, people immediately think you want to completely ban alcohol. In fact, it is a matter of personal choice. Many people can use alcohol in moderation, but others cannot. It's a matter of recognizing that, if you or your friend abuses alcohol, violence becomes more likely. You are more likely to get hurt in or close to a bar than in or close to library (unless the library is near a bar). You have to figure your risks and act accordingly.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. I don't drink

because, frankly, I don't like the taste of alcohol, nor the effect it has on me. But I think it is vital that alcohol (and marijuana) both be available in a controlled manner--sold by licensed dealers and distributors. That's how you keep a handle on both of them and the government gets some revenue via taxes.

Edited to add: I've never used marijuana, either. Freaks some folks out that I am, and have always been, in favor of legalization.

[JDPriestly]

20. I'm the same as you. I don't care for the taste of alcohol,

but I believe it should be legal. I also believe that people should be better informed about its social effects.

The numbers of children who suffer in homes in which one of the other or both parents are alcoholics is huge. (A much, much larger number than the number of children affected by the alleged abuse by the polygamy cult, but look at which abuse gets the bigger press attention).

The role of alcohol in violence is huge.

The detrimental effects of alcohol on the health of many Americans is devastating.

But, most people don't realize this at all.

Sometimes it seems, here in LA, that from a third to a half of the residents are in Alcoholics Anonymous. That is how much substance abuse and alcoholism there is here.

I bring this up because McCain and his wife are wealthy because of their alcohol interests. That is the basis for their wealth.

It is not a matter of laws. It's a matter of helping people make better personal choices.

Same with drug use.

[Tesha]

11. "Hey, dude, go punch that guy out for me."

"Hey, dude, go punch that guy out for me."

"Why?"

"He said something mean to me."

"What?"

"What do you mean, 'What?'"

"Like, uhh, what did he say to you?"

"I dunno, some rude shit man. Go punch him out."

"Uhh, oh, okay, uhh, I'll get right on that after this toke..."

(later)

"Uhh, what did you ask me to do again, man?"

[DS1]

16. I would say that it probably does impair some drivers

and while some people *ahem* can handle driving high, it's not worth it to let the ones who can't handle it drive just because others can.

Still, I've never seen two high people fight. It should be legal, even if the bars do suddenly lose a shitload of income. They can let back in the regular smokers.

[damntexdem]

10. Or that alcohol tends to be sold in neighborhoods that are already more violent.

[coriolis]

12. I think it's just that not a lot of alcohol stores are smack in the middle of residential

neighborhoods...for a number of reasons.

[lazyriver]

13. I think you make a very valid point. Sure there is a correlation,

between crime and where alcohol is sold, but I don't think one can necessarily make the conclusion the selling of alcohol causes the crime.

That said, I've seen more bad decisions made by people under the influence of alcohol than almost any other substance.

[Fumesucker]

18. In the great majority of America , alcohol is available in every convenience store..

My neighborhood is about as non violent as it gets (I haven't locked my house in about ten years) and we have three convenience stores that sell beer within a mile of us.

Edited to add: And I forgot, a liquor store closer than any of the convenience stores (I've never been to the liquor store, which is why I forgot it).