NCJ Number
188006
Date Published
October 2000
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This Australian study aimed to determine the strength of a variety of socio-demographic risk factors for being a victim of alcohol-related violence, which is defined as experiencing a physical or verbal assault, or being "put in fear" by an alcohol-affected person or persons in the previous 12 months.
Abstract
The study tested the hypothesis that places where alcohol is usually consumed, times of absences from the home, and the frequency of such absences are more important factors in the likelihood of experiencing alcohol-related violence than being young and male. Data were obtained from the 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. A range of questions about alcohol-related violence and other social disorder were included in the survey. Respondents were asked whether, in the previous 12 months, they had experienced verbal or physical assault or had been put in fear by someone who was under the influence of alcohol, how often they had experienced these forms of violence, where victimization had occurred, and who the perpetrators were. Respondents were asked at what time of the day and week violence had occurred. Findings show that alcohol-related violence is widespread. Nearly one-third of respondents reported suffering at least one alcohol-related assault in the previous 12 months. More than 1 in 4 had suffered verbal assault, 1 in 7 had been put in fear, and 1 in 20 had suffered physical assault. Younger respondents reported especially high levels of alcohol-related victimization. There were clear time-and-place risk factors for the assault. Pubs and clubs appeared to be the most common location for victimization. The street was the next most frequent place for assault. Nearly a quarter of victims experienced alcohol-related violence in their own homes. 5 tables and 14 references