Alcohol and Policing Flashcards
How has the act led to a change in the number and variety of drinking environments?
Vetting applications to ensure unsuitable people do not obtain licences.
What is the connection between alcohol and violence?
Alcohol is an aggravator: it increases an individual’s tendency to aggressive behaviour, and this is reflected in the high percentage of alcohol-related offences.
What are the facts about young people (under 18) and alcohol?
Younger groups are regularly encountered drinking in public places, and more alcohol-related disturbances at private premises involving juveniles.
Before law change, effective drinking age was 17-19yrs, whereas now it is around 14-16yrs.
Access to alcohol is facilitated by legal-age drinkers supplying to minors or purchasing on their behalf.
Many cases of minors using friends’ or siblings’ ID to gain entry to licenced premises.
In what ways does alcohol impact on policing?
Social norms appear to tolerate binge drinking and intoxication.
If social norms were changed to discourage excessive drinking, the police’s alcohol-related enforcement work could take place in a more supportive environment.
What examples can you give of the preventative role of police in regard to alcohol?
Targeting ‘hot locations’ for violence, disorder and driving offences which can achieve big gains in prevention.
Taking an active role in enforcing the Act.
Using a friendly approach (being less intimidating can defuse tensions and conflict).
Higher police profile in licenced premises.
What is the effect alcohol has on the human body?
Alcohol slows down the operation of various sorts of cells in the body, acting as a sedative; it slows down reaction time and reduces alertness and emotional control.
Any amount of alcohol will have some sort of effect on driving ability.
What are some of the factors that determine the rate at which individuals absorb alcohol?
Bigger people have more water in their body so the alcohol is diluted, meaning they get drunk more slowly.
Women get intoxicated quicker because of their generally lower body weight and higher proportion of body fat (fat does not absorb alcohol).
Eating food before or during drinking slows the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the body.
