Notes on the Criminogenic Hypothesis: A Case Study of the American Liquor Industry

This case study of a single economic enterprise, stressing a symbolic interactionist perspective, examines the five tiers which make up the American liquor industry: distillers, distributors, retailers, drinkers and the legal order. Consistent with the interactionist method, attention is given to the relationships and actions that constitute the worlds of this social structure. The alcoholic beverage and the drinker-consumer relationship is a central focus of attention from level to level within the tiers of the industry. Special attention is given to criminogenic activities within and among the five tiers of this industry. The historical context and social interactions from which these activities arise are given emphasis. Finally, a tentative schema is suggested for analyzing criminogenic activities within the American liquor industry and, perhaps, within