Relationship Between Alcohol And Crime

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Assess the nature and extent of the relationship between alcohol and crime. Alcohol does not always cause crime but the relationship between alcohol and crime has been an issue for many years. Since the 19th century, more critical attitudes towards drinking began to emerge and studies have continued to show the deterioration of the nation’s drinking habits. This essay will evaluate and discuss the UKs drinking habits, young people and alcohol and the consequences of drinking, how drinking will cause young people to offend, how the media portrays crime and alcohol and some policies and action plans that have been put in place to tackle crime caused by alcohol. Alcohol may not necessarily cause people to commit crimes, but it plays a big part in people’s attitudes towards alcohol and how it may affect an individual when out drinking with friends or at home and how it may cause violence in a household. ‘Evidence does not establish that people who drink commit crimes nor does it prove that those who commit violent crimes drink to excess. It does reveal how often one is intoxicated when caught in the act of committing a crime. This is problematic if the very act of being intoxicated increases the probability of being apprehended (McMurran, M and Hollin, C, 1993: 7) Some studies have shown that age and gender have a factor in alcohol-related crimes, as well as the area the crime is taking place and the time of day. Public concern about ‘alcohol-related crimes’ often relates to offences: * “involving a combination of criminal damage offences, drunk and disorderly and other public order offences * Involving young males, typically aged between 18-30, but increasingly, also young females * Often occurring in the entertainment areas of town and city centres”. (Institute of alcohol studies ‘alcohol and crime’ (29 July 2010) There are many statistics to show

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