Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

Alcohol-related crime is a problem in many cities and towns. This Research Development and Statistics Directorate report presents the main findings from 2 Home Office studies that explored the relationship between alcohol consumption and offending among 18 to 24 year-olds. The 1st study examined the 1999/1998 Youth Lifestyles Survey (YLS) to quantify the association between binge drinking and offending behaviour. The 2nd study involved focus group with young people to explore the social context of binge drinking.

Title: Drinking, crime and disorder  
Author: Research Development and Statistics Directorate
Series: Findings 185
Number of pages: 4
Date published: February 2003

Key points

Findings from the YLS

• 39% of 18- to 24-year-olds were classified as 'binge drinkers' (those who got very drunk at least once a month). Men were more likely to binge drink (48%) than women (31%).

• Binge drinkers were more likely to offend than other young adults. 39% reported committing an offence in the 12 months prior to interview, compared with 14% of regular drinkers. Young male binge drinkers were particularly likely to offend (49%).

• 60% of binge drinkers admitted involvement in criminal and/or disorderly behaviour during or after drinking, compared with 25% of regular drinkers. Again young males were most likely to report such behaviour (69%).

• The link between drinking and offending was particularly strong for violent crimes.

• Even after other factors were taken into account, frequency of drunkenness remained strongly associated with both general offending and criminal and disorderly behaviour during or after drinking.

Findings from the focus groups

• Qualitative research found that most of the young adults had experienced or witnessed assaults or fighting while out drinking. They identified an array of factors that they felt contributed to the link between alcohol and crime and disorder. There were 4 broad groups: 

  • effects of binge drinking

  • attitudes and motivations

  • social and peer group norms 

  • the drinking environment.

Patterns of drinking

The YLS collected information on the frequency of drinking and frequency of drunkenness during the previous 12 months. These 2 measures were used to construct a typology of drinking behaviour:

• binge drinkers – those who felt very drunk at least once a month

• regular drinkers – those who drank at least once a month but felt very drunk less often

• occasional/non-drinkers – those who drank alcohol less than once a month or not at all.

Drinking patterns and general offending

The YLS asked respondents if they had ever committed various offences in the previous 12 months. The offences were grouped for this analysis as:

• violent crime (assaults, fights and robbery) - fights were also examined separately

• criminal damage (criminal damage and arson)

• theft (thefts of / from vehicles, shoplifting, pick-pocketing, burglary and other thefts)

• any offence (comprising all of the above plus fraud and forgery and handling stolen goods).

Reducing alcohol-related crime and disorder

Young people were asked to suggest approaches that they felt might be effective in reducing alcohol-related crime and disorder. There were mixed views about many of the suggestions, with many young people being particularly sceptical about the possibility of reducing alcohol consumption and the effectiveness of advertising. However, they did suggest a range of interventions including:

• better training for bar and door staff so that they can manage the drinking environment effectively

• stricter vetting procedures for door staff

• plastic glasses/bottles to lessen the risk of injury in fights

• changes to the licensing laws to extend drinking hours

• increased visible police presence outside venues

• better public transport in and out of entertainment districts

• hard hitting, effective advertising campaigns

• more alcohol education in schools from an early age.

Conclusion

The results from the YLS demonstrate that binge drinking is strongly associated with offending behaviour, particularly violent incidents, even when other factors are taken into account. This does not necessarily mean that excessive alcohol consumption in itself is causally linked to offending. 

The physical effects of alcohol alone are unlikely to account for the relationship. The young people identified a range of factors that influenced the link between alcohol and criminal and disorderly behaviour. These related both to the individual and the social and cultural environment. They also suggested many practical measures which could reduce the problem of alcohol-related crime and disorder.

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