Embargoed to 6am Thursday 14th January 2016
Researchers appalled at alcohol report
11 January 2015
Embargoed to 6am Thursday 14th January 2016
An alcohol industry funded report that claims alcohol is not a cause of violence has been debunked by researchers in New
Zealand and Australia.
The report (published in March 2015) from British anthropologist, Dr Anne Fox, focused on the causes of violence and
anti-social behaviour in night-time entertainment areas in New Zealand and Australia.
Dr Fox claimed that alcohol consumption was not a cause of violence, but instead, that beliefs regarding acceptable
behaviour when drinking were to blame.
She recommended that children were educated regarding proper behaviour when drinking, parents were taught how to talk to
their children about alcohol, and the public educated about acceptable drinking behaviour via media campaigns.
Researchers Nicki Jackson from the University of Auckland and Professor Kypros Kypri from the University of Newcastle in
Australia, were appalled at the report’s recommendations.
They have published a critique in the latest issue of the international peer-reviewed journal Addiction, addressing the
key claims with reference to the scientific evidence.
Ms Jackson says that “these types of recommended approaches may modify a person’s knowledge or attitude, but rarely
their behaviour.”
“The report is highly selective in the research used to support its recommendations. It fails to acknowledge the huge
body of evidence concerning effective strategies for reducing violence, such as earlier cessation of sales in licensed
premises,” she says.
“Despite failing to meet even basic standards of research the report cannot be ignored, because the findings are being
used by the alcohol industry to overturn licensing decisions and in submissions on public policy,” says Professor Kypri.
“We believe this was simply an effort by the alcohol industry to raise doubts about the existing evidence, which is
strong,” he says. “Employing ‘merchants of doubt’ is a strategy used by the fossil fuel industry to subvert science on
global warming.”
“This report should be viewed in the same way.”
ENDS