56), not all robberies are necessarily a violent crime however it still negatively affects the property owner. In the case of homicides, 19% were linked to alcohol use and the majority of those involved an argument or dispute (Spunt, Goldstein, Brownstein, Fendrich, & Langley, 1994, p. 43). A simple discussion could easily be misconstrued by someone that has been drinking and cause him or her to irrationally act violent. A friendly conversation could get ugly if a drunken person took offense to a simple off-the-cuff remark or felt like he was being judged. This illustrates how alcohol contributes to anger management that in turn leads to violence and subsequently may involve innocent people.
As reported by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, in Women Under the Influence (Califano, 2006, p.46), upwards of 73% of all rapes and 70% of domestic violence incidences are contributed to alcohol use. These figures represent the strong link between alcohol and violence against people that live in the same residence or have a familial relationship. Violence against women in general is exacerbated by alcohol more than any other drug and women become more at risk to be victimized if they too have been drinking (p.65). It is well known that alcohol lowers inhibitions and many people say and do things that they would not do when they were sober. Unfortunately domestic violence begets violent behavior, meaning; the abused becomes an abuser and it will continue if the cycle is not stopped early. In addition alcohol abuse contributes to an increase in other crimes with similar devastating effects.
Drunk driving is an issue that is in the news regularly, reports of accidents caused by drunk drivers; driving at a high rate of speed, driving erratically or against the flow of traffic. In The Prohibition Hangover the author admits that 41% of all traffic fatalities are attributed to alcohol use (Peck, 2009, p.