Rapid evidence assessment reveals the most effective interventions for tackling night-time violence linked to alcohol consumption
New research into reducing alcohol-related violence
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The College of Policing has published a What Works rapid evidence assessment, reviewing 42 international studies to identify the most effective interventions for tackling alcohol-related violence in nightlife settings.
Community collaboration
The review found that multi-component community interventions delivered the strongest and most sustained reductions in alcohol-related violence. These collaborative approaches, which bring together police, licencing authorities, venue operators and local communities, appeared to successfully embed responsible practices into local night-time economies.
The review also recommends a problem-oriented approach, targeting specific ‘flashpoints’ where alcohol-related violence typically occurs, such as bar entrances and taxi queues. Targeted police enforcement at high-risk venues, particularly when coordinated with local agencies, proved more effective than general patrol strategies.
Other successful interventions included:
- responsible alcohol service training
- reduced trading hours
- smaller alcohol container sizes
- regulation of alcohol outlet density
In contrast, treatments that targeted individuals, such as psychological and therapeutic programmes, showed limited effectiveness, while interventions such as extended licencing hours and lockout policies were found to increase violence.
The research notes the true impact of interventions may not be fully known as many studies used measures of general violence rather than alcohol-specific incidents.
Combining interventions
The review concludes that no single intervention will eliminate alcohol-related violence. It suggests that targeted enforcement combined with responsible serving practices and genuine partner and community engagement offers the best possibility for reducing harm and improving public safety.
