The Relationship of Alcoholism to Violent Behaviour Resulting in Long-term Imprisonment

An association between alcohol use and violent behaviour has commonly been reported in the literature, both in the context of alcohol use at the time of the violent act (Wolfgang et al. , 1956; McLintock, 1963) and in the context of the alcohol habit of men convicted of violent offences (Gibbens and Silberman, 1970). Similarly a high incidence of severe alcohol addiction has been found in men appearing before courts (Gath, 1969) and in prisons (Hensman, 1969).