Alcohol and Crime in the USA - Essay Example

Alcohol consumption arguably releases stress and makes people forget trouble (Michael, 169). Alcohol is known to be harmful to human health. Most interesting however is its relationship to crime. Humans have consumed alcohol since time immemorial. Regardless of actual alcohol content in a drink, alcohol is known to cause a feeling of liberty from stress. It is also observed to enhance boldness, stimulate confidence and freedom (Hutchison 60). There is a great connection between the mind’s emotions and the physical body. Alcohol creates a sense of relaxation in the person who has consumed it, giving them a sense of confidence and boldness, which they cannot display otherwise (Uggen 130). If anyone thinks that these outcomes of alcohol consumption is there is about it, then one needs to journey with me and look at alcohol consumption from a different perspective. While there has been extensive study on the impacts of alcohol consumption on the health of the individual, how it affects crime has always been under looked (Deehan 5). There is an observation that a large percentage of people who engage in criminal activities are found to have consumed alcohol (Birkbeck 116). This observation serves to indicate that there is a relationship between alcohol consumption and crime in the US. The United States is the country with the largest number of prisoners in the world. According to the report by the Federal bureau of investigations, crime rates in the US are high in areas with less financially stable residents (Michael, 248). According to the report by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and alcoholism, the nature of alcohol abuse and alcoholism is widely spread in the areas with low income earning residents. Going by these two reports, there exist a correlation between alcohol consumption and crime. Men, the young, the minorities and the less financially stable are the characteristic individuals involved in crime. Coincidentally, according to the statistics collected by National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and alcoholism, they are the highly indulged in alcohol abuse and alcoholism (Skog 199). Therefore, analyzing the connection between alcohol consumption and crime in the USA becomes inevitable. There are some crimes mostly related to alcohol consumption. Homicide, rape, burglary, theft, robbery, child abuse, road accidents, Domestic violence, Teens pregnancy, suicides e.t.c are all crimes, arguably having alcohol as a factor in their committal (Michael, 171). Since addressing crime alone, by apprehending the criminal is not likely to succeed in reducing the acts of crime, then the root cause and the motivation behind the committal of criminal activities needs to be addressed. Among all crime related activities reported to the police in 2009, 43 % were found to have been committed by individuals who had previously consumed alcohol (Michael, 314). With such backgrounds, then I present my claim that to address crime in America, the US government already pay much attention on regulating alcohol consumption, but it is not effective. This is because, many underage are still being involved in alcohol consumption, alcohol related violence and offences are still on the rise and domestic violence with alcoholic perpetrators is still rife (Michael, 172). Hence, I will propose that US government should devise legislations and policies that would effectively eliminate minor involvement in alcohol consumption. Furthermore, the government should introduce social programs that address alcohol consumption, through engaging the alcohol consumers to seminars and workshops, which will play a great role in minimizing the number of alcohol consumers. Consumption of alcohol is likely to result to wrong doings that are offensive and punishable by law, for example, drunken driving. Battery is another sort crime well related with alcohol consumption, where an individual who is under the influence of alcohol engages in physical assault to members of t heir families or their partners. Among all the reported crimes in the US in the year 2009, cases of battery accounted for 36% of all the reported crime. This is an indication that individuals under the influence of alcohol have a higher chance of assaulting their partners or their family members, more than engage in committing any other alcohol related crime (Michael, 303). In the US, according to the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drugs & other Addictions Services, a woman is battered every fifteen minutes, by their either husbands or boyfriends. The major cause of injuries in women of between ages 15-44 is domestic violence (Michael, 306). Thus, domestic violence accounts for most of Alcohol related crime in the US. Neglect of children, family duties and other responsibilities is another sort of crime mostly associated with alcohol consumption. About 25% of families neglected are accounted for by individuals who abuse drugs, alcohol inclusive, according to the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drugs & other Addictions Services. Chronic alcohol behavior creates stress in the family, causing the individuals addicted to alcohol opt out of their family responsibilities (Michael, 306).Homicide, robbery, Burglary, suicide, and car crashes are other alcohol related sorts of crime that are frequently committed by individuals who are under the influence of alcohol. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics on Alcohol and Crime, the highest percentage of those committing such crimes had consumed alcohol prior to the act (Michael, 303). Worth noting is the fact that the crime committed in the US, more than anywhere else in the world is unique. This is because; crime in the US is very much entangled with the racial alignment. Most of crime in the US is now concentrated in several cities, mostly that are economically disadvantaged. The alcohol consumption in the same cities is higher by a great margin, as compared to those other cities whose crime rate is very low (Gyimah-Brempong, 6). The relationship between poverty, alcohol consumption, and committal of criminal activities is well illustrated by the observation above. Poverty causes stress and depression to individuals, who opt to play it down by consuming alcohol. When they consume alcohol, the individuals tend to forget the nature of life problems and shortages facing them. However, when they become addicted to alcohol and lacks resources to commit to alcohol consumption, then the individuals are likely to indulge in such criminal activities such as robbery and burglary, to obtain money to quench their alcohol thirst. Thus, poverty causes individuals to indulge in alcohol consumption, which in turn forces them to indulge in crime. The revelation that alcohol accounts for 40% of domestic violence perpetrated in US is alarming. The fact that alcohol is related to violent crimes, in the light of some statistical data provided by the Bureau of Justice Statistics on Alcohol and Crime (Michael, 12). The number of violent crimes that occur in the US each year is about 3 million cases. The victims are perceived to have been drinking during such offences. Further, of the people who witness such cases and reports them, 35% of the offenders are found to have consumed alcohol before perpetrating such violent acts on their victims (Parker, 296). Two thirds of these reported crimes were categorized as minor assaults while one third of them were major assaults (Parker, 298). Most worrying of the statistics is the fact that two thirds of all battery cases were perpetrated by individuals to their spouses, when they were under the influence of alcohol. That every three in four cases of victimization-involved individuals who had consumed alcohol is another stunning revelation, based on the Bureau of Justice Statistics on Alcohol and Crime (Michael, 14). Considering the data provided here, it is apparent that most violent crimes committed by individuals in the US have alcohol as a contributing factor. It is not strange therefore, to argue that there is a significant link between alcohol and crime. Therefore, the control of alcohol consumption can go a long way in helping reduce the acts of crime committed. That is why the US government needs to understand that the reduction in rates of crimes committed has to start with a tight control in alcohol consumption. This needs to be done through the introduction of social programs that will enlighten the public on the dangers of alcohol consumption, as well as the enactment of policies and legislations that will effectively hinder the consumption of alcohol by the under age (Parker, 296). Road related crimes are a factor of alcohol consumption, mostly by the young and middle-aged citizens. Information is provided to the effect that most of road crashes are alcohol related. According to (Wagenaar, 206), when there was a reduction of the legal minimum drinking age from the age of 21 years down to the age of 18 years in the State of Michigan, many road crashes were witnessed and reported. In the year 1996, law enforcement agencies arrested an estimated number of people above 1.4 millions who were involved in driving while they had already consumed alcohol. The same kind of arrest was at its highest in 1983, when an estimated above 1.9 millions arrest were made. This has increased slightly to a tune of 1467300 arrests made last year (Michael, 33). Among these arrests made, a large percentage was accounted for by people under the age of 21 years. However, after the enactment of the legal minimum drinking age, set at 21 years, the number of such arrest has significantly decreased. In the year 1996 alone, the number of licensed drivers of between ages 16-20 accounted for 10 percent of all drivers licensed in the US. However, of the traffic and road related arrests made this year, 15% was accounted for by the people below the age of 20years. The alcohol related accidents increased from 15% -20 % after the decrease of the legal minimum drinking age from 21 to 18 years. This is evidence enough to show that traffic and road related crimes are linked to alcohol consumption largely. In 1996 alone, there were over 17,000 alcohol related fatalities from road accidents, which accounted for 41% of all fatalities occurring during the year. This indicates that alcohol related road and traffic crimes are the greater causes of road fatalities. No, wonder therefore, that alcohol and crime cannot be separated. Alcohol is a factor in many sexual related offences. It is also a significant element contributing to defiance. That the most deviant individuals in the society are adolescents is an observation well made (Sampson, 65). There is a relationship between age, alcohol and drug abuse. Despite the legal minimum drinking age having been set at 21 years, teens in the US engage in alcohol consumption as early as when they are 12 years (Michael, 14). It is estimated that 80% percent of Teens have already tried alcohol, before they attain the minimum drinking age. Unlike the adults, the chances of teens who consume alcohol involving in the abuse of other drugs are so high. Those Teens who consume alcohol are likely to indulge in sex without prior preparation or caution. Therefore, Teens consuming alcohol are observed to involve in sexual crimes such as sexual assaults to the tune of 40%. Alcohol consumption also accounts for over 60% of teenage unwanted pregnancies and well over 50% of sexually transmitted diseases in teens (Michael, 291). This is because, most teenager indulge in unprotected sex or engages in sex with strangers while they have consumed alcohol. This increases the chances of the teenagers contracting sexually transmitted diseases as well as having unplanned pregnancies. The accessibility of alcohol is also a factor for affordability. When it is easy to afford the price of alcohol, then it becomes easy to access it. The higher the accessibility and availability, the higher the rates of violence and crimes committed. The sense in this is that as more people consumes alcohol, most of them will lose self control and will be prompted to act under the influence of alcohol. The larger the number of people acting under the influence of alcohol, the higher the chances of violence and other alcohol related crimes (Gyimah-Brempong, 19). By controlling the accessibility of alcohol, through ensuring that alcohol sells only at recommended places, the US government can address the issue of alcoholism and therefore reduce the rates of crimes. The government should ensure that no alcoholic drinks are sold in supermarkets and other stores, limiting its sale to bars and clubs. In so doing, its accessibility will be limited and thus the reduced consumption of alcohol. With a low consumption rate of alcohol, the rate of alcohol related crimes would be reduced because; the more the numbers of individuals who consume alcohol, the higher the chances of acting under its influence, and thus the higher the rate of alcohol related crimes. The reduction of legal drinking age from 21 to 18 years in the state of Michigan increased the number of people consuming alcohol. This in turn increased the rates of road related crashes from 15-20 % (Michael, 35). The effect of lowering the minimum legal drinking age is incomplete without looking at how alcohol consumption influences the adolescents to commit criminal activities. Another sub-claim is that alcohol consumption significantly affects adolescent’s indulgence in acts of crime (Cleveland & Wiebe, 280). The adolescents tend to lose self-control when under the influence of alcohol. They tend not to reason well while they are drunk. Consuming alcohol gives them boldness and courage, making them becomes defiant and violent when they engage in alcohol consumption. The influence of alcohol on their emotions erodes the sense of responsibility and respect for their seniors (Birkbeck, 131). This coupled with the confidence developed by peer drinking socialization and bonding makes the adolescents more defiant, rude, and daring. With such characters embedded on them, it is most likely that they will engage in acts of crime. The larger percentage of crime committed are from offenders who were consuming alcohol during the time they committed the crimes (Ugger, 129). In the year 1996 alone, there were close to six million offenders who were under the correction program in the US. Among these offenders, 36% accounted for those who were drinking at the time of the offense (Michael, 129). Most of these offenders were found to have committed public order crimes. Some 50% of the patients and victims were diagnosed to be alcoholics and 23% of them were alcohol dependants. These statistics show s the magnitude of alcohol related crimes in violent and public order offenders. It is therefore a clear indication that alcohol plays a significant role in the committal of crimes in the US. Thus, any attempt to control or reduce the rates of crimes committed has to start with an effort to control the rate of alcohol consumption. In 2006, a report Alcohol and Crime was released by Department of Justice and crime that indicated that one individual in every one hundred of the US citizens was in prison (Michael, 99). Another alarming revelation is that 25% of all prisoners in the US were found to be alcoholics. The report also indicated that in the 11 million of those people who had fall victim of violent crimes, 2.2 million of them had been assaulted by people who were under the influence of alcohol. In the cases of domestic violence and battering, 55% of the perpetrators of these crimes did it when they were under the influence of alcohol. For the rape cases that occurred during the year, consumption of alcohol accounted for 30% of these cases. Further, more in all cases of homicides recorded, alcohol was observed to be a factor in 40% of these cases, in that those who committed homicides were noted to have consumed alcohol prior to doing it (Michael, 222). This is because; committing such acts while in a sober state is not entirely easy. Therefore, consuming alcohol helps individuals lose their sober state of mind, allowing them indulge in such acts without thinking much of the repercussions. The above facts kept aside, the report indicates that 2.9% in 1000 live births possess fetal alcohol syndrome. The transmission of HIV/AIDS has 51% alcohol as a factor every year (Michael, 307). This further serves to indicate that not only is alcohol a factor in cases of crimes committed in the US, but it also accounts for the transmission of sexually transmitted disease. In the light of this, alcohol consumption is a factor in most of the US endemic. HIV/AIDS prevalence and spread is noted to be more on gay men. The highest transmission of HIV in the US is accounted for by Men having sex with men. Considering that there are more men involved in alcohol consumption than women in the US (Deehan, 7), it can therefore be deduced that alcohol is a factor in the spread of HIV. Therefore, there is a need to control alcohol consumption in order to have a healthy and crime free society in the US. Therefore, based on this facts, it can be observed that more than any other cause in crime, alcohol consumption has accounted for the most of crimes committed in the US. As a result, the link between alcohol and crime is apparent, in that alcohol is a factor in any form of crimes committed, only at varying degrees. It is against this background that the need to control alcohol consumption by the US government becomes essential. Worth noting is the fact that the report further indicates that alcohol consumption accounted for 850,000 deaths (Michael, 305). This, coupled with the huge government expenditure on health budget to treat alcohol related ailments indicates the magnitude of harm that alcohol and its consumption have caused to the US. It costs the government 1.5 billion dollars every year to treat alcohol related illnesses. According to a report released by the US government on June 2005, alcohol abuse kills some 75000 Americans each and shortens the average lifespan of Americans by 30 years (Deehan, 8). According to the report, alcohol consumption and abuse is the third cause of death, which is preventable, after tobacco and poor eating habits in that order. This therefore suggests that the control of alcohol consumption needs to be taken seriously by the US government. Road accident, homicides, teenage pregnancies, domestic violence, child abuse, rape to mention but a few are crimes that have a tight connection to alcohol consumption (Birkbeck, 130). Robbery, burglary and other thefts are crimes induced by a need to have and consume alcohol (Skog, 205). Consumption of alcohol is observed to account for over 40% of all crimes committed in the US (Michael, 211). Therefore, alcohol consumption should be viewed as a great contributor to the humanity problems of the 21st century in the USA. Further, any attempt to control or alleviate crime without first addressing the issue of alcohol is just but waste strategy. Therefore, to alleviate the problem of crime in the US, the government should apply a tight control towards alcohol consumption. Thus, the link between alcohol and crime in the US is a fore gone conclusion that both are significantly related. If the government affords to reduce alcohol consumption, not only will it have solved the problems of alcohol related crimes but it will also have controlled one of the major causes of preventable deaths in the US. Work Cited Birkbeck, Christopher, and Gary LaFree. "The Situational Analysis of Crime and Deviance." Annual Review of Sociology, 1993. 113-137. Print. Deehan, Ann. Alcohol and Crime: Taking stock. London: Crown Copyright, 1999. 12-120. Print. Gyimah-Brempong, Kwabena. "Alcohol Availability and Crime: Evidence from Census Tract Data." Southern Economic Journal, 2001. 2-21. Print. Hutchison, W. Ira. "The Effect of Children's Presence on Alcohol Use by Spouse Abusers and Their Victims." Family relations, 1999. 57-65. Print. Michael, Rand. Characteristics of crime victims: US Bureau of Justice Statistics. Journal of Alcohol and Crime, 2008. 12-308. Print. Parker, Robert Nash and Kathleen Auerhahn. “Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence.” Annual Review Of Sociology. Annual Reviews, 1988. Print. Sampson, J. Robert, and John H. Laub. "Crime and Deviance in the life course." Annual review of Sociology, 2004. 63-84. Print. Skog, Ole-Jorgen. “Alcohol and Suicide: Durkheim Revisited.” Acta Sociologia. Sage Publications, 1991. Print. Uggen, Christopher. Ex-Offenders and the Conformist Alternative. "A Job Quality Model of Work and Crime." Social Problems, 1999. 127-150. Print. Wagenaar, C. Alexander. "Effects of an Increase in the Legal Minimum Drinking Age." Journal of Public Health Policy, 1981. 206-225. Print. Read More