Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic - London

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BMA Board of Science
Information on alcohol-related violent crime and disorder is available from crime surveys; however,
these data are subjective as they are reliant on the victim’s perception of an offender’s alcohol use.
According to the British Crime Survey (BCS) 2005-06, 44 per cent of violent offenders in England
and Wales were perceived by their victims to be under the influence of alcohol. 80
This corresponds
to a decrease in the number of violent incidents where the victim believed the offender or
offenders to be under the influence of alcohol from 1,659,000 in 1995 to 1,029,000 in 2005/06.
The offender was judged to be under the influence of alcohol in 54 per cent of incidents of
stranger violence, 44 per cent of incidents of acquaintance violence and 21 per cent of incidents
of mugging. 80
Eighteen per cent of violent offenders between the age of 10 and 25 reported being
under the influence of alcohol only, and three per cent under the influence of drugs and alcohol,
at the time of the offence. 81
Thirty-two per cent of young people surveyed reported being under
the influence of alcohol when committing criminal damage offences and 27 per cent were under
the influence of drugs and alcohol while being involved in vehicle related thefts. 81
The 2000
Scottish Crime Survey (SCS) found that 72 per cent of victims of violent crime in Scotland reported
that the assailant was under the influence of alcohol, and that male offenders were more likely to
be under the influence (69%) than female (30%). 82
Comparative data are not available for
Northern Ireland.
The levels of alcohol-related crime and disorder vary with age and pattern of drinking. The 2003
Offending, Crime and Justice Survey (OCJS) found that binge drinkers were more likely to offend
than other regular drinkers, and the number of offences was highest among binge drinkers aged
18 to 24. 83
While this age group accounted for only six per cent of the total adult survey sample,
it was found to be responsible for 30 per cent of all crimes and 24 per cent of all violent incidents
reported by adults in the preceding 12 months. 83
Young binge drinkers aged 18 to 24 were found
to account for a disproportionate level of criminal and disorderly behaviour (ie getting into an
argument or fight, breaking or damaging property, and stealing). 83
Drinking alcohol, especially
frequent drinking, is also a significant factor in criminal and disorderly behaviour in young people
aged under 18. The 2004 OCJS for England and Wales found that 10 to 17-year-olds who
reported drinking alcohol once a week or more (14%) committed a disproportionate volume of
crime, accounting for 37 per cent of all offences reported by the respondents. 84
Those who had
never drunk alcohol or had not drunk alcohol in the past year, comprised 45 per cent of
respondents and only committed 16 per cent of all the offences reported. 84
Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic