Temporal and Regional Aspects of Alcohol-related Violence and Disorder

Abstract

The purpose of this bulletin is to review research exploring the relationship between alcohol and crime, and to examine patterns of alcohol-related crime arising from New South Wales police records. The number of assault, offensive behaviour and malicious damage to property incidents flagged by police as being alcohol-related are included in this analysis. Characteristics of alcoholrelated crime, such as where and when it is most likely to occur, as well as the gender and age of persons typically involved, are also reported. Strategies to reduce alcohol-related crime and important areas for future research arising from these findings are discussed. In recent times, much media attention has been focused on crime associated with illicit drug use and consequently, resources have often been devoted to identifying and targeting the associated problems. However, in the United States, it has been found that more crime is committed under the influence of alcohol than under the influence of all illegal drugs combined (United States Department of Justice 1998). Several Australian studies have also established that alcohol is significantly associated with crime, especially violent crime, and have been able to identify a number of areas that could be targeted in an attempt to reduce alcohol-related crime