Alcohol, gender, aggression and violence: findings from the Birmingham Untreated Heavy Drinkers Project

Description/Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between heavy drinking and aggression using quantitative and qualitative data from a Department of Health funded interview study of untreated heavy drinkers living in the largely urban English West Midlands region (n = 403). Interviews consisted of a combination of forced choice questions and semi-structured discussion. Quantitative data showed high levels of verbal aggression, serious arguments and fights. Significant associations were found between alcohol-related aggression, lower age, number of very heavy drinking days and lower socio-economic status. Thematic analysis of qualitative data showed that participants considered alcohol to be heavily implicated in aggressive behaviour, but differences exist between quantitative and qualitative findings in terms of the importance of gender. Participants associated aggression with masculinity and youth, but violence involving women and domestic violence were rarely discussed.