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Alcohol Use and Crime? Essay

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This assignment will define alcohol and crime and discover whether there is a strong link between the use of alcohol and crime. Findings and statistics will also be used to present the Information. Laws and legislations put in place about the consumption of alcohol will also be presented including the pros and cons of alcohol along with a conclusion of my thoughts and beliefs in relation to the link between alcohol and crime. "Alcohol reduces our ability to think straight," says Professor McMurran, a psychologist at the University of Nottingham."It narrows our focus of attention and gives us tunnel vision."If someone provokes us while we're drunk, we don't take other factors into account, such as the consequences of rising to the bait. …show more content…

A crime is conduct (or an act of omission) which, when it results in certain consequences, may lead to prosecution and punishment in the criminal court. Newburn (2012:8). Crime is usually defined as breaking the law. The government and authorities usually set out laws for its general public to follow and those who break the law will be faced with the consequences of being punished. The behavior codes introduced by the state are examples of codes that influence society. The criminal justice system forces the law and those that break it will be faced with its consequences. Crime is often set aside for the offences that cause harm or injury to the community, individuals or state, The institute of alcohol studies stated that according to the 2011/12 CSEW, there were 917,000 violent incidents where the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol, accounting for 47% of violent offences committed that year, this represents a rise of 3 percentage points on the previous year [2010/11].
There is a strong link between alcohol and crime since alcohol is a depressant it leaves the drinker less able to concentrate, less able to judge situations, and less able to control emotions. According to Newburn .T, (2013) drinking and offending share common risk factors such as, parental substance use, behavioural problems in middle childhood, involvement with misguided social groups and, a family

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