Alcohol and Deviance

WILLIAM MITCHELL (SID:311252095)

UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, SYDNEY
SLSS3601: QUANTITATIVE REPORT PART B WILLIAM MITCHELL (SID:311252095)
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was test popular hypotheses regarding the relationship between
alcohol consumption, deviant behaviour and gender. The study used data generated through
a survey completed by 181 university students at the University of Sydney from 2011 to
2014.
The findings of this study showed that, predominantly, there is a positive correlation between
alcohol consumption (by volume as well as frequency) and deviant behaviour. Contrary to
popular belief, this relationship does not apply to more serious behaviours (e.g. assault,
drunk driving). No statistical significance was found between genders and volume or
frequency of alcohol consumption. However, a select few results highlight that males were
more likely than females to engage in certain deviant behaviours.
The data generated from this study is highly relevant to contemporary debate surrounding
alcohol consumption and deviant behaviour, particularly in relation to recent lock-out laws.
Building on the work of Yeoman (2013), the data reflects the idea that recent lock-out law
policy-changes are the result of moral panic in public discourse surrounding alcohol
consumption and not a response to a reality of alcohol-fuelled violence.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Public discourse illustrates a surge of alcohol-fuelled crime in NSW (Gerathy, 2014;
Ralston, 2014). Typically alcohol-fuelled crime appears to be synonymous with assault and
violent crime (Ralston, 2014). However, data showed that, of the sample group, very few
participants identified as having engaged in such behavior. This exaggeration (Ben-
Yehuda, 2009:49) of alcohol-fuelled violence indicates that recent policy change relating to
lock-out laws are the result of moral panic. Furthermore, the evolution of Sydney lock-out
laws displays the classical elements of the folk devil (Cohen, 1972:PAGE). In the case of
Daniel Christies Murder, Daniel Christies murderer, Shaun McNeil, was used as a
scapegoat in the justification of policy-change (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2014).
This disparity between perception and reality is characteristic of what Yeoman (2013)
identifies to be a moral panic.
Contemporary academic literature surrounding the relationship between alcohol
consumption and deviant behaviour often illustar
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gerathy, S. (2014) NSW Cabinet to discuss alcohol-fuelled crime in wake of Daniel
Christies death Australian Broadcasting Corporation Accessed at:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-20/nsw-cabinet-meets-on-alcohol-fuelled-
crime/5207822; Last accessed on 16/05/2014
Ralston, N. (2014) Assault rate rises in NSW homes The Sydney Morning Herald Accessed
at: http://www.smh.com.au/national/assault-rate-rises-in-nsw-homes-20140602-39et5.html;
Last accessed on 16/05/2014
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2014) Daniel Christie Death: Shaun McNeil charged
with murder over New Years Eve assault Australian Broadcasting Corporation Accessed at:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-13/shaun-mcneil-murder-charge-one-punch-death-
daniel-christie/5197764; Last Accessed on: 16/04/2014
Yeoman, H. (2013). Theorizing Alcohol in Public Discourse: Moral Panics or Moral
Regulations in Moral Panics in the Contemporary World
SLSS3601: QUANTITATIVE REPORT PART B WILLIAM MITCHELL (SID:311252095)
APPENDIX