What shall we do with the Drunkenness Offender?

¹ Research Psychiatrist and Honorary Senior Registrar, Addiction Research Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, University of London and the Maudsley Hospital; Consultant Psychiatrist, Shenley Hospital, nr. St. Albans, Herts.
² Director, Alcoholics Recovery Project, 25 Camberwell Grove, London, S.E.5
³ Social Worker, Alcoholics Recovery Project, 25 Camberwell Grove, London, S.E.5

During a six month period, 132 persons charged with drunkenness offences and who were kept in custody overnight, were interviewed before their appearance in Camberwell Magistrates' Court. As well as obtaining information about personal and demographic characteristics, an attempt was made to assess the nature of their drink and drink-related problems, if any. This was considered relevant since public drunkenness is the subject of certain envisaged and actual changes in the law whereby such behaviour would be seen not as an offence but as the symptom of the disease of alcoholism and that such persons should be offered medical treatment rather than being fined or imprisoned.

Nevertheless it could also be argued that it is not conceptually valid to consider alcoholism a disease in the medical sense, but rather that it is a learned behavioural response and that it should be possible to decriminalize public drunkenness without invoking concepts of disease. Such a humanitarian proposal does not actually need a medical justification.

The data collected from the drunkenness offenders suggested that they did not on the whole perceive themselves or their problems in medical terms, and this was supported by the small number who had previously been in contact with the medical profession and by the equally small number who were subsequently recommended for medical or psychiatric treatment. On the other hand, a larger proportion were considered by the interviewers to be in need of community support and help. 'What shall we do with the drunkenness offender?' is a question raised but not answered by the recent changes in the law. A proper understanding of the concept of alcoholism as well as an awareness of the actual needs and expectations of those for whom it concerns should help frame a suitable and relevant answer.