However, many people who drink are not violent, and many people who use violence are sober when they abuse, control and commit acts of violence. Efforts to reduce men’s use of violence that focus on addressing alcohol and other drug abuse should also happen alongside efforts that address the drivers of such violence.
What we know about alcohol and violence
Alcohol is correlated with more severe incidents of violence against women, and incidents where the police are called, so addressing harmful drinking is an important part of addressing violence against women and gender-diverse people. Many people who have experienced violence report their partner’s use of violence getting worse when they drink alcohol or take other drugs.
Too commonly, the use of alcohol and other drugs is seen as an excuse for violent behaviour. Explanations like “I don’t remember that,” or “I was drunk, I didn’t know what I was doing,” downplay violent actions.
Where the person using violence is living with addiction, victim-blaming often increases: “you should know not to get in their way when they’re like this,” or using mental health to avoid accountability for their behaviour. Drinking and other drug use should never excuse, dismiss or minimise abuse.
Australia’s shared national framework for the prevention of violence against women, Change the story, describes ways we can address the harmful impact of alcohol abuse on the use of violence, including improving how access to alcohol is regulated.
We can also reform harmful drinking cultures – including looking at the places and situations where drinking and other drug taking is layered with expectations of how men should behave. For example, family violence response and emergency services report an increase in violence following alcohol-fueled sports events like AFL and rugby grand finals.