Topic 6: VIOLENCE, DISORDER AND THE NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY (NTE)

Question 1

What is the night-time economy (NTE)?

Answer 1

NTE refers to the consumption of alcohol in pubs, bars and other evening/ night-time entertainment venues

Question 2

What percentage of recorded violent incidents in England an Wales (2019/2020) involved a victim who believed their attacker was under the influence of alcohol?

Answer 2

42%

Question 3

What is the estimated annual cost of alcohol-related violent crime?

Answer 3

Nearly £1 billion

Question 4

What is the estimated annual cost of alcohol-related health problems?

Answer 4

£1.9 billion

Question 5

What is the estimated cost of excess alcohol to the NHS in Wales in 2008-09?

Answer 5

Between £69.9 million and £73.3 million

Question 6

What are some of the problems/harms associated with alcohol and drug consumption in the NTE?

Answer 6

• Increased crime and fear of crime
• Increased demand on emergency healthcare services
• Increased costs of street cleansing
• Noise and light pollution
• Anti-social behaviour
• Dependence on mental health services

Question 7

What contributed to the rapid expansion of the NTE in the early 1990s?

Answer 7

• Mass de-industrialization
• Mass unemployment
• Economic recession
• A reluctance from the government to invest in cities, leading to towns allowing the rapid expansion of the NTE

Question 8

What is “civic boosterism”?

Answer 8

The act of marketing and promoting a city or town by attracting alcohol-related entertainment businesses, often without considering the implications and impact

Question 9

What was the increase in licensed premises in Cardiff between 1999 and 2003?

Answer 9

The capacity of licensed venues increased from 38,000 in 1999 to 68,000 in 2003

Question 10

What was the increase in licensed premises in Manchester between 1998 and 2001?

Answer 10

There was a 240% increase in licensed premises between 1998 and 2001

Question 11

What was the government’s approach to addressing problems in the NTE in 2007, according to the “Safe, sensible and social” document?

Answer 11

The focus was on “the minority of drinkers who cause the most harm,” such as binge drinkers and underage drinkers, and promoting responsible drinking

Question 12

What is the critique of the “Safe, sensible and social” approach?

Answer 12

It fails to recognize the complexities around social drinking contexts and drinker motivations, and removes responsibility from the government, media, and alcohol manufacturers

Question 13

What are the four main factors identified by Edwards (2010) to explain the problems in the NTE? (PPVM)

Answer 13

People, Place, Venue and Market

Question 14

What is the “enacted environment” concept proposed by Hobbs et al.?

Answer 14

The idea that the NTE is what people in it think it is, and their actions create the environment

Question 15

What is the “prevailing hypocrisy” mentioned by Hobbs et al.?

Answer 15

The hypocrisy of politicians and regulators embracing the market ideology and the rapid expansion of the NTE, while ignoring the associated heavy episodic alcohol consumption

Question 16

What is the role of bouncers in the NTE, according to Hobbs et al.?

Answer 16

Bouncers, as “professionals of violence,” carry out the “dirty work” in the “anarchic and predatory marketplace” created by irresponsible politicians and regulators

Question 17

What is the “critical realist” approach to understanding the problems of the NTE?

Answer 17

The critical realist approach is concerned with identifying the underlying structures and causal mechanisms that generate the problems, rather than relying solely on empirical data or respondents’ explanations

Question 18

What were the key findings of Swann’s (2021) study on women’s aggression in the NTE?

Answer 18

Women’s understandings of violence, disorder, and anti-social behavior varied considerably and were linked to their membership in different Weberian status groups and the associated values and norms

Question 19

What is the “problem-oriented approach” to policing the NTE?

Answer 19

A problem-oriented approach involves targeted interventions and initiatives to address specific issues, such as Project Vigilant, which aimed to tackle incidents of sexual violence in the NTE

Question 20

What is “plural policing” in the context of the NTE?

Answer 20

Plural policing refers to the involvement of various actors, such as police officers, student volunteers, bouncers, street pastors, and taxi ambassadors, in policing the NTE

Question 21

What are some environmental design and urban planning strategies used to manage the NTE?

Answer 21

• Pedestrianization
• Placement of taxi ranks
• Availability of public transport
• Street furniture
• Different “zones” to separate different types of drinkers

Question 22

What is the “mixed evening economy” approach?

Answer 22

The mixed evening economy approach aims to shift away from an alcohol-dependent late-night economy toward a more diverse, inclusive, and family-friendly evening economy with a broader range of cultural and entertainment venues that are not solely reliant on alcohol sales

Question 23

What is “civic boosterism” in the context of the NTE?

Answer 23

Civic boosterism refers to the act of marketing and promoting a city or town by attracting alcohol-related entertainment businesses, often without considering the implications and impact

Question 24

Who are the key theorists mentioned in relation to understanding the causes of violence and disorder in the NTE?

Answer 24

• Hobbs et al.
• Moore et al.
• Swann
• Edwards

Question 25

What is the “hypocrisy” mentioned by Hobbs et al. in relation to the NTE?

Answer 25

The “prevailing hypocrisy” refers to the hypocrisy of politicians and regulators embracing the market ideology and the rapid expansion of the NTE, while ignoring the associated heavy episodic alcohol consumption

Question 26

What is the role of bouncers in the NTE, according to Hobbs et al.?

Answer 26

Bouncers, as “professionals of violence,” carry out the “dirty work” in the “anarchic and predatory marketplace” created by irresponsible politicians and regulators

Question 27

What is the “critical realist” approach to understanding the problems of the NTE?

Answer 27

The critical realist approach is concerned with identifying the underlying structures and causal mechanisms that generate the problems, rather than relying solely on empirical data or respondents’ explanations

Question 28

What were the key findings of Moore et al.’s (2012) study on reducing alcohol-related harm in the NTE?

Answer 28

The study recommended external management of customers, appropriate and vigilant security staff and serving staff, and addressing environmental factors such as music, temperature, crowding, and air quality

Question 29

What is the significance of “quarterisation” in managing the NTE?

Answer 29

Quarterisation refers to dividing the NTE into different zones or quarters, effectively separating different types of drinkers and venues

Question 30

What is the role of street pastors in policing the NTE?

Answer 30

Street pastors are often volunteers who assist in managing and supporting individuals in the NTE

Question 31

What is the purpose of “night marshalls” in the NTE?

Answer 31

Night marshalls are volunteers who remove glass from streets and provide other safety measures, such as distributing flip-flops to protect people’s feet

Question 32

What is the importance of environmental design and urban planning in managing the NTE?

Answer 32

Environmental design and urban planning strategies, such as pedestrianization, placement of taxi ranks, public transport availability, and street furniture, can help reduce problems and improve safety in the NTE

Question 33

What is the significance of the “mixed evening economy” approach?

Answer 33

The mixed evening economy approach aims to shift away from an alcohol-dependent late-night economy toward a more diverse, inclusive, and family-friendly evening economy, potentially reducing alcohol-related public health issues

Question 34

What is the role of “taxi ambassadors” in the NTE?

Answer 34

Taxi ambassadors are individuals who assist in managing and coordinating taxi services in the NTE

Question 35

What is the critique of the “Safe, sensible and social” approach to addressing problems in the NTE?

Answer 35

The critique is that it fails to recognize the complexities around social drinking contexts and drinker motivations, and removes responsibility from the government, media, and alcohol manufacturers