NCJ Number
169969
Date Published
1998
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This report presents the findings of an Australian survey that asked respondents to report the extent to which they had committed any of six alcohol-related incidents in the past 12 months.
Abstract
The data came from two national surveys conducted in 1993 and 1995. The listed disorderly acts while under the influence of alcohol are the physical abuse of someone, damage to property, stolen property, created a public disturbance or nuisance, driven a motor vehicle, and verbally abused someone. The vast majority of the respondents reported that they never committed any of these disorders in 1993 and in 1995; however, in 1995 approximately 2 percent physically abused someone while intoxicated, and approximately 3 percent damaged property; 10 percent had driven while drunk, and 8 percent had verbally abused someone; approximately 2 percent reported stealing property, and 6 percent reported creating a public disturbance or nuisance. There was a clear and significant association between individual consumption and disorderly behavior. Both binge and harmful/hazardous drinkers were more likely to report being repeat multiple and chronic offenders. Policy initiatives that focus on lowering levels of alcohol consumption for these groups could well result in less alcohol-related disorderly behavior. The risk factors associated with offending -- being male, young, single, having income, and high alcohol consumption -- are also characteristics associated with being a victim of drunken behavior. This suggests that strategies designed to reduce victimization should be aware that the target group is also likely to consist of offenders as well as victims. 6 tables and 9 references