LIT 8.2 Van Amsterdam Alcohol and Drug Related Public Violence

Question 1

What methodology did van amsterdam use?

Answer 1

The study aimed to gather quantitative data on public violence incidents related to alcohol and drug use across Europe. Narrative or qualitative studies were excluded.

Question 2

What were the key findings of van amsterdam?

Answer 2

Key Findings:
●Alcohol is strongly linked to public violence. Across various European countries, approximately half of all violent incidents in public spaces involve alcohol consumption.
●The proportion of drug-related public violence is considerably lower than alcohol-related violence. Estimates suggest that drug involvement in public violence ranges from 1.5% in Germany to 18% in the UK. However, the study cautions that underreporting of drug-related violence is possible due to the lack of systematic research and reliance on subjective assessments.
●Nightlife settings are significant hotspots for substance-related violence. In the Netherlands and the UK, two-thirds of public violence occurs in or around licensed premises, with alcohol playing a role in 80% of these incidents and drugs in 10%.
●The simultaneous use of alcohol and drugs significantly increases the risk of violence. Research indicates that individuals who consume both alcohol and cocaine within a short timeframe are at a much higher risk of both injury and aggression compared to those using either substance alone.

Question 3

What are the limitations to the van amsterdam study?

Answer 3

Subjective assessment of substance use. The study criticizes the frequent reliance on anecdotal evidence or subjective observations by police officers to determine whether a perpetrator was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This approach is considered particularly unreliable for drug use, where physiological signs are less obvious than alcohol intoxication.

Lack of standardized testing. The authors highlight the infrequent use of chemical analysis of perpetrators’ specimens (breath, saliva, or blood) to confirm substance use prior to violent offences. This lack of objective data makes it difficult to accurately assess the true prevalence of substance-related violence

Question 4

What are Regulatory Measures to Reduce Alcohol-Related Violence? Van Amsterdam

Answer 4

• Stricter age limits for alcohol sales.
• Limiting alcohol sales in crowded places or restricting sales to low-alcohol beverages.
• Restricting opening hours of nightlife premises.
• Increased surveillance using CCTV in areas where alcohol is consumed