When people think of alcohol-related harm, their minds often go to impaired driving or liver disease. But there’s another critical aspect of alcohol’s impact that too often gets overlooked: its connection to violence.
Alcohol is a key contributor to many forms of violence—including gun violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and homicide. It doesn’t just increase the risk of harm to the person drinking—it endangers families, neighborhoods, and entire communities.
This week during Alcohol Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the alcohol-violence connection and what can be done to prevent it.
The Role of Alcohol in Violent Crime
Alcohol lowers inhibitions and impairs decision-making. These effects can escalate tensions and fuel aggression, leading to violent acts that otherwise might not occur.
In the U.S., studies have shown that alcohol is involved in:
40% of violent crimes, including assaults, homicides, and sexual assaults.
Two-thirds of intimate partner violence cases, with alcohol often used by the aggressor before or during the incident (Greenfield, 1998).
The presence of alcohol in violent incidents isn’t a coincidence—it’s a risk amplifier.
Alcohol and Firearms: A Lethal Mix
When alcohol and firearms are in the same space, the risk of lethal outcomes increases drastically. Impaired individuals are more likely to act on impulse, react aggressively, and make poor judgments—especially dangerous in the presence of a gun.
In a comprehensive 2023 report, public health researchers concluded that alcohol misuse is a significant and modifiable risk factor for gun violence (Villarreal et al., 2023). They recommend state-level policies that temporarily restrict access to firearms for individuals with alcohol-related offenses, such as multiple DUIs, as a means to reduce preventable deaths.
The Impact on Intimate Partner Violence and Homicide
One of the most tragic and preventable consequences of alcohol misuse is intimate partner homicide. In states with stronger alcohol policy safeguards—such as limiting when and where alcohol can be sold—there are significantly fewer cases of alcohol-involved intimate partner homicide (Lira et al., 2019).
This research suggests a direct link between alcohol availability and domestic violence outcomes. Policies that restrict high-risk access to alcohol can save lives, particularly among women and children who are disproportionately affected by domestic violence.
Secondhand Harms from Alcohol Use
Just like secondhand smoke, alcohol doesn’t just harm the user. It harms everyone around them.
From 2000 to 2015, researchers found that individuals living in states with government oversight of alcohol sales—such as ABC or state-run stores—had 41% lower odds of experiencing physical harm from someone else’s drinking (Trangenstein et al., 2020). These “secondhand harms” include being assaulted, threatened, or emotionally harmed due to another person’s alcohol use.
How Communities Can Respond
The good news? We can prevent alcohol-related violence—but it requires action.
Communities that implement evidence-based alcohol policies often see reductions in:
Violent crime rates
Domestic violence cases
Homicide and suicide involving alcohol
Secondhand harm reports
Policy safeguards work. These include:
Restrictions on hours and days of alcohol sales
Limiting the density of alcohol outlets
Taxation and pricing strategies that reduce binge drinking
Screening and referral programs in healthcare and schools
What You Can Do
Even as individuals, we can take meaningful steps to reduce alcohol-related violence in our communities:
Support policies that limit high-risk alcohol access (e.g., hours of sale, outlet density, and pricing strategies).
Talk to your local leaders about evidence-based alcohol laws that reduce violence.
Promote awareness of alcohol’s role in violent crime.
Encourage education and intervention programs in schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
Spread the word about how policy saves lives—not just stats.
Let’s Take Action This April
Preventing violence isn’t just about punishing crimes—it’s about preventing the conditions that lead to them. Alcohol misuse is a major contributor to violence, but it’s a factor we can change.
By supporting strong alcohol policies, raising awareness, and educating our communities, we can reduce the toll of violence and build safer, healthier environments for everyone.
Let’s make Alcohol Awareness Month not just a time to reflect, but a time to act.
#ProofIsInTheNumbers #AlcoholAwarenessMonth #PreventViolence
References
Greenfield, L.A. (1998). Alcohol and Crime: An Analysis of National Data on the Prevalence of Alcohol Involvement in Crime. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/ac.pdf
Villarreal, S., Barnhorst, A., Bonnie, R., Chavis, K., Davis, A., Frattaroli, S., Roskam, K., Swanson, J., & Horwitz, J. (2023). Alcohol Misuse and Gun Violence: An Evidence-Based Approach for State Policy. Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/sites/default/files/2023-05/2023-may-cgvs-alcohol-misuse-and-gun-violence.pdf
Lira, M.C., Xuan, Z., Coleman, S.M., Swahn, M.H., Heeren, T.C., & Naimi, T.S. (2019). Alcohol Policies and Alcohol Involvement in Intimate Partner Homicide in the U.S. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 57(2), 172–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2019.02.027
Trangenstein, P.J., Subbaraman, M.S., Greenfield, T.K., Mulia, N., Kerr, W.C., & Karriker-Jaffe, K.J. (2020). Association between state-level alcohol availability and taxation policies on the prevalence of alcohol-related harms to persons other than the drinker in the USA, 2000–2015. Drug and Alcohol Review, 39(3), 255–266. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13041