NCJ Number
203605
Journal
Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: 2003 Pages: 5-17
Date Published
2003
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study examined the link between binge drinking and criminal and disorderly behavior among 18- to 24-year-olds in the popular entertainment districts of British cities and towns.
Abstract
The study involved a secondary analysis of the 1998-99 Youth Lifestyles Survey, which involved a representative household survey of 12- to 30-year-olds living in England and Wales. The survey was designed to measure self-reported offending, but it also obtained basic sociodemographic information, as well as information on factors associated with offending, notably alcohol and drug use. For the purposes of this study, binge drinkers were defined as "men who had drunk more than eight units of an alcoholic beverage on at least one day in the past week." This measure was consistent with measures used in other British surveys. Also, those who reported getting drunk at least once a week, several times a month, or once or twice a month were classified as binge drinkers. Initial analysis used both definitions of binge drinking. Results indicated that patterns of offending were similar for both definitions of binge drinking; however, the frequency of drunkenness was the focus of the analysis reported in this paper. The study found that in the 12 months prior to the survey, 39 percent of binge drinkers admitted to committing an offense, and 60 percent of the binge drinkers acknowledged criminal and/or disorderly behavior during or after drinking alcohol. Multivariate analysis found that binge drinking remained strongly associated with criminal and disorderly behavior even after taking into account other relevant factors. Individuals who got drunk at least once a week had more than five times the likelihood of being involved in fighting or violent crime. Thus, frequency of drunkenness linked a large minority of young adults to offending or disorderly behavior, particularly crimes of violence. The link was stronger among males than among females. 4 tables, 10 notes, and 18 references