Analysis of Public Drinking and Violence: Not Just an Alcohol Problem by Ross Homel, Steve Tomsen and Jennifer Thommeny - Article Example

Critical Evaluation Title: Public Drinking and Violence: Not Just an Alcohol Problem Authors: Ross Homel, Steve Tomsen and Jennifer Thommeny. This is a qualitative research article which uses various variables established through theoretical observation adopted from previous studies. Qualitative approach unlike quantitative approach allows the researchers to get more in-depth information regarding the subject of interest as they are able to make interaction and understanding of the background of the subject as opposed to generalization of idea (Adler & Clark, 2008). Research question in this study has been clearly stated. The research question is “Whether alcohol consumption itself contributes in some way to the likelihood of violence, or whether aspects of drinkers or of the drinking settings are the critical factors” (Homel et al. 1991; 681). This is in an effort to uncover the real cause of violence in public drinking places in line with other studies that have been conducted earlier on by other scholars regarding violence and drinking. The article has three collaborating theoretical frameworks. The independent variables include alcohol and licensed premises operating at night. The dependent variables in the theoretical frameworks differ although they are all leading to the same conclusion, that alcohol is not solely to blame for violence in the clubs but the situation is influenced by other environmental factors such as the atmosphere of the club, comfort level, arrangement and management, staff and bouncers as well as patrons company. The first theoretical framework involves the National Committee on Violence which was established by the government to review the causes of violence in response to the shooting which occurred in 1987 in Melbourne. The findings of this committee conformed to police and criminological view on violence. They concluded that most incidences of interpersonal violence are not just random attacks from strangers on complete strangers but entail ordinary persons as both victims and attackers who most often are familiar to each other or who for some reason come into conflict at work; place of recreation, home or in the streets. Statistics of violence stipulates that the places where most events of interpersonal violence happen and the moments at which they happen reflect the routines and rhythms of daily life (Robb, 1987). For instance it is routine in Australian culture to indulge in alcohol. In a 1988 survey in four Australian states, 75 per cent of all adults drink at least regularly and 10 percent of these people can be termed as heavy drinker. Fifty percent of the population drinks at least once or two times in a week. This is behavior dominantly of men under the age of 25 years drinking in licensed pubs or restaurants. In the United States, as many as 80 percent of those apprehended for concealed weapons, cuttings, murder, shooting and other assaults had certain amounts of alcohol in their body (Collins, 1989). The second theoretical framework was obtained from a study by Robb in 1988 in New South Wales. It was confirmed in study conducted on serious assaults recorded by police that, 40 percent were alcohol related. Most of the assaults reported also occurred at night during pub closing hours and 2o percent occurred outside or near licensed premises (Ministry for Police and emergency Services, Victoria Police1989; Robb, 1988). The third theoretical framework is obtained from Cohen and Felson. It has been clearly noted that statistics do not show any direct relationship between alcohol consumption and violence. Drinking being a routine behavior among many citizens, it therefore thought that violence is a routine activity that is related to other routine activities and thus it is difficult not to find alcohol linked to many instances of violence (Cohen and Felson 1979: 589). Prior carrying out a study, a hypothesis need to be formulated which acts as a guide to the research. The hypothesis in the article is; there’s a complicated (but rather real) link between violence and public drinking (not just the mere consumption of alcohol) which is implanted in Australian culture and history and duplicated in institutional arrangements and authority and police activities concerning drinking (Homel et al. 1991). The hypothesis is appropriate as it takes into consideration other studies and conforms to the theoretical frameworks in the article. It also guides the researcher in trying to answer the research question. To create an effective study design, the authors drew upon two studies of violence which were built upon systematic observation of drinking atmosphere and the characteristics of the patrons. Particularly, the study by Graham et al. in Vancouver done in 1980 was very useful in guiding this very research as data was collected for a wide range of situational variables as well as for cases of aggression and physical assault. The authors used many variables and views from the Vancouver study by Graham and her colleagues as a foundation for their study (Homel et al. 1991). This was influenced particularly by the authors’ recommendation that future studies to focus on areas where alcohol linked aggression occur often and that in this context more information be obtained on the processes of aggression. To do this, observation method was used to collect information. Observation entails the process of observing the subjects in the research in their natural activities i.e. not interfering with their business. Structured observation together with semi structured interviews was done with chamber magistrates, licensing and general duties police, as well as security industry personnel. Sampling technique used was “theoretical sampling” strategy which was based on the best present qualitative decision concerning premises position in terms of poor management or violence. This sampling technique was applied by the authors due to lack of any objective information in New South Wales identifying licensed clubs as more violent or less violent (Homel et al. 1991). This helped establish which pubs were likely to have violent incidences. As a result, six places were established with four areas being termed as ‘high risk’ and two ‘low risk’. The research design was labour intensive and necessitated the observers to stay inside as well as outside the licensed premises to gather information related to violence. Thou a risk task, this method were appropriate as it helps gather first hand information. The semi structured interviews assisted in getting data from the authorities which helped in data analysis and drawing conclusion. Data collection technique that was applied was adopted from Miles and Huberman (1984). Once the observers left a site, notes were made and information jotted onto an observation paper listing huge numbers of variables. Each visit was then written up as a distinct narrative accounted by each observer. The narratives were counterchecked and later coded at a group gathering. Results from data analysis showed that, much of the observed violence is not due to anything innate in typical patrons of the venue or public drinking. Four major aspects were obtained from the grounded analysis and constant comparative and they include; the social atmosphere, patron type, drinking patterns, and the behavior of the bouncers. The social atmosphere entails the arrangement of the premises, orderly or disorderly, congested, crowded ventilation etc. It was observed that, in premises that are disorderly or with discomfort, patrons are likely to drink recklessly and are likely to be violent to each other as a way to reduce their frustration with the atmosphere. Patron type on the other hand entails the gender mix, group or individual patron. Individuals are less likely to be violent or aggressive than groups of male. The male groups show loyalty to the gang by being violent to others who provoke their members. In addition, in a group with mixed female and male, violence is less. Drinking pattern is the pattern of drinking that is largely influenced by offers and discounts. In clubs with entrance fee and an offer for beer, patrons tend to drink more and recklessly hence get intoxicated and are likely to engage in violence (Homel et al. 1991). However, when people drink normally in a relaxed atmosphere with entertainment, they tend to drink less and have good mood especially if the entertainment is good music and spacious dance floor. The vice versa is true. Behavior of the doormen is also an element that was established during the study. Most of the violence that occurs also relies on the behavior of the doormen. If the doormen are not harsh or unprofessional, they are likely to instigate assault. Consequently, male bouncers have a tendency of provoking violence while dealing with patrons unlike female patrons who seem to handle patrons with ease and avoid violence. The study makes recommendations for the policy makers to improve the situation. Amendments to S.125 are recommended as it’s vague and does not regulate violence. Also regulations should be made on policies required on bouncers’ training (Homel et al. 1991). They should be professionals and mature in their work to avoid irresponsible behavior which was observed in this study. References Adler, E. S., & Clark, R. (2008). How It’s Done: An Invitation to Social Research. United States of America: Thomson Wadsworth. Collins, J. (1989). Alcohol and interpersonal violence: Less than meets the eye. In Pathways to Criminal Violence, N.A. Weiner and M.E. Wolfgang (eds). 49-67. Newbury Park: Sage. Graham, K. et al. (1980). Aggression and barroom environments. Journal of Studies on alcohol, 41: 277-292. Homel et al. (1991). Public Drinking and Violence: Not Just an Alcohol Problem. Journal of Drug Issue, 68(7): 20-27. Miles, M. and Huberman, A. (1984). Qualitative data analysis. Beverly Hills California: Sage. Ministry for Police and Emergency Services, Victoria Police. (1989). Study of serious assault on civilians reported to the Victoria police. Melbourne: Ministry for Police and Emergency Services. National Committee on Violence, (1990). Violence: Direction for Australia. Canberra: Australia Government Publishing Service. Robb, T. (1988). Police reports on serious assault in N.S.W.. Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. Read More