Controlled drinking goals for offenders

Abstract

In the UK, there is concern about alcohol-related violence among young, male, binge drinkers. Many convicted offenders have alcohol-related problems, yet Prison and Probation Services have been slow to produce alcohol strategies. Currently, the range of alcohol interventions is limited, but, with alcohol strategies developing, it is timely to consider what interventions should be offered. Targeting only offenders who are alcohol dependent and recommending abstinence will alienate many of those who are guilty of alcohol-related violence. Alcohol treatments for these offenders should be specifically crime-focused and the treatment goal may need to be the compound one of the reduction of alcohol-related violence. Offenders should be offered help to moderate their drinking and, more specifically, to reduce the incidence of drunkenness. Interventions of a range of intensities should be offered, including brief interventions. In conjunction with this, prominence should be given to changes at a societal level to reduce binge drinking.

• Aggression
• alcohol
• offenders
• treatment
• violence

Notes

¹Vast drinking halls, called ‘binge-o halls’ by Phil Hogan in his column in The Observer, 28th March 2004.