Crime and Violence

Many empirical studies have found a strong positive correlation between alcohol consumption and many types of crime and violence. The most obvious criminal link is impaired driving, but alcohol consumption also is associated with interpersonal violence  and other crimes, including assaults, sexual assaults, intimate partner violence, and homicide.

In 1998, an NIAAA study estimated costs of alcohol-related crime was over $34 billion and the total cost of alcohol abuse was estimated at over $184 billion.  PIRE researchers' more recent cost estimates of alcohol- and drug-related crime combined is $55 billion.

Researchers agree the association between alcohol and crime is complex and likely influenced by individual, situational, and environmental factors.  Reflecting the multidimensional nature of the problem, PIRE researchers have studied this relationship at both individual, contextual, and policy levels.  In particular, PIRE researchers have examined environmental characteristics that might influence drinking behaviors as well as social norms around drinking and engaging in criminal behavior. 

By using spatial models, PIRE researchers have examined the availability of alcohol, (most often measured as alcohol outlet density per geographic region such as census tract), as a factor related to drinking and driving, binge drinking, child abuse and neglect, accidental injuries, and violent assaults.  Some findings from this research include that higher on-premise alcohol outlet density (such as bars) are associated with greater drinking and driving, child neglect, and assaults whereas, higher off-premise (such as liquor stores) alcohol outlet density are associated with higher child physical abuse, and injuries from accidents, while both types are associated with more problem drinking such as binge drinking. 

In addition, associations frequently vary by type of alcohol outlet such that the density of restaurants that serve alcohol may have different associations than the density of bars or liquor stores and associations differ by age group.  The associations between outlet density and injury in children can differ from associations for teens, young adults, and elderly.  PIRE researchers have developed statistical techniques and spatial analysis software to explore how community characteristics such as social disorganization and alcohol outlet density influences a variety of health behaviors.  Findings from the research have implications for health education and interventions, health policy, and commercial zoning.