Population-Level Alcohol Consumption and National Homicide Rates

• In Event: Trends in and Explanations of Cross-National Violence Rates

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the association between population-level alcohol consumption and cross-national homicide rates. We are among the first to test this association and the first to test the four main hypotheses attempting to explain the nature of any association. We obtained data for 83 nations on population-level alcohol consumption and male- and female-specific homicide victimization rates. Controlling for several structural covariates we tested four explanations: a linear effect of total per capita consumption, a threshold effect, risky national drinking patterns, and beverage-specific effects (beer, wine, spirits, other). We found no support for the risky drinking patterns and threshold effects explanations. We found a positive impact of total per capita consumption on both male and female homicide victimization rates, though our other findings suggest this belies more complex beverage-specific effects. Per capita wine consumption was negatively and significantly associated with male and female homicide victimization rates. Per capita beer and spirits consumption were positively and significantly associated with male and female homicide victimization rates. All positive effects were stronger for men relative to women. We discuss the implications of our findings for theory and for the cross-national homicide literature that has largely ignored population-level alcohol consumption.

Authors

• Sara Margret Hockin, Georgia State University

• Kirsten Hill, Georgia State University

• Meghan L. Rogers, University at Albany, SUNY

• William Alex Pridemore, University at Albany, SUNY