The influence of alcohol on the commission of crimes against the person. Alcoholism and crime - a direct relationship? Why does alcohol provoke crime?

There is no doubt that alcoholism and crime are closely related. Excessive alcohol consumption is today a specific cause of the vast majority of crimes committed or a condition contributing to their commission.
A person who is intoxicated when committing an offense does not think about the consequences. He can only realize the entire social danger of the crime he committed, which often falls under the sanctions of articles of the criminal code, after sobering up. Often, serious crimes are committed under the influence of alcohol.
Thus, citizen “K”, having taken a fair amount of alcohol, decided to visit his friend “Z”, but when he arrived at her house he discovered that the friend was not at home and, taking advantage of her absence, broke the lock on the front door, illegally entered the house of “Z” and secretly stole property that belonged to her, thereby committing a crime under paragraph A of Part 3 of Art. 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The crime committed by this citizen belongs to the category of serious crimes and the alcohol consumed the day before became a great contributor to the commission of this crime.
It happens, for example, that the desire to cause bodily harm for reasons of revenge appears in a person in a sober state, but in a sober state he would never have decided to do this. In such cases, alcohol is undoubtedly a contributing factor in the commission of the crime.
The subjects of crimes committed while intoxicated are often minors. Many of them may be registered with the juvenile affairs inspectorate for appearing in public places while intoxicated, petty hooliganism, or other administrative violations; they are left without supervision or without proper control from parents and teaching staff of educational institutions; they do not work or study. and don't want to learn.
Thus, minor citizen “D”, having drunk a certain amount of alcohol, saw citizen “T” walking along the village street, approached him and entered into a conversation with him. During the conversation “D”, using an earlier quarrel between his mother and gr. “T”, as a reason, experiencing personal hostility, having a criminal intent to intentionally cause grievous harm to the health of “T”, deliberately, in order to realize his criminal intent, struck one blow with his head in the face area and a second blow with the fist of his right hand in the area of ​​the left "T's" eyes, which made "T" fall to the ground. By his criminal actions, “D” caused “T” bodily harm, resulting in loss of vision, which is regarded as serious harm to health.
A criminal case was initiated against citizen “D” under Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. As can be seen from this example, citizen “D” was driven to commit a serious crime precisely after drinking alcoholic beverages and there are a huge number of such examples.
All these examples prove that the influence of alcohol on the commission of crimes is very great, since the bulk of crimes, especially serious ones, are committed while intoxicated. A person, being in a state of alcoholic intoxication, feels his impunity, but if the feeling of impunity reaches such a limit that a person commits a crime, then everyone who commits such a crime will certainly receive his well-deserved punishment.

Therefore, no one will openly say that it is alcohol that shapes the entire picture of crime. Although all statistics are publicly available. The vast majority of crimes are domestic, and almost all of them are committed under the influence of alcohol, or the motive is the use of alcohol by other people - victims, accomplices.
Murder is one of the most “alcoholic” crimes. Statistics for different years vary slightly: 80-85% of all murders were committed while intoxicated. A significant portion of the remainder are drug-related, but alcohol leads by a wide margin. The share of any professional killers with sniper rifles in the overall picture of murders is simply insignificant. Although, judging by the numerous films about cops and bandits that have not left the screens for three decades now, one gets the opposite impression. Guess who needs this?
Thefts, robberies, and robberies in most cases are committed while intoxicated or in order to obtain alcohol or drugs. Rape is almost 100% closely related to alcohol. Car thefts, grievous bodily harm, arson - all this is caused by alcohol.
Perhaps various “cunning” crimes, such as computer hacking, are not related to alcohol? But no. Such a hacker almost always sips beer at the computer. Alcohol “in moderate doses” contributed to the distortion of his moral principles, the desire to get “everything at once” instead of working honestly and achieving success. It’s the same with all sophisticated scams - you won’t find absolute teetotalers among such scammers during the day.
Maybe maniacs, serial and mass murderers are not associated with alcohol? No matter how it is. Evsyukov was drunk at the time of the crime and was generally addicted to alcohol. Chikatilo was far from a teetotaler - he even had beer with him at the time of his arrest. The cannibal Nikolaev tried human flesh for the first time while intoxicated. He exchanged some of the meat of his murdered drinking companion for alcohol, passing it off as kangaroo meat. You can give any number of examples from this series.
Alcohol destroys that part of a person’s personality that is called morality, conscience, soul. An alcoholic, who just a few years ago could not imagine how to steal, easily goes and steals. The one who once said that he would never raise a hand against a woman beats his wife and children. More serious crimes - murders, robberies - are committed according to the same principle. And the main thing is that a drinking person, unlike a sober person, even after sobering up does not realize the depth of his fall. Here too, the denial characteristic of all alcoholics comes into play. Listen to those who are serving sentences in places of deprivation of liberty - those who repent, at least for the sake of appearance, are only a few. They all “stood nearby”, “passed by”, “didn’t know that this would happen”, “just wanted to joke”, “took a ride”, etc. and so on.
Are you sure that your loved one will not commit a crime tomorrow while intoxicated?

Stories from our readers

Saved the family from a terrible curse. My Seryozha hasn’t drunk for a year now. We struggled with his addiction for a long time and unsuccessfully tried a lot of remedies over these long 7 years when he started drinking. But we made it through, and all thanks to...

Read the full story >>>

According to statistics from the Federal Penitentiary Service, as of the end of 2017, about 89% of all convicts admitted to serve their sentences under a court sentence committed their crimes while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Drinking alcohol, depending on the situation, quantity, and character of the drinker, can be a relatively harmless Friday hobby, or it can become a reason and contributing factor for various immoral, illegal, and socially dangerous actions. The effect on a person’s brain and consciousness is directly reflected in his behavior - a feeling of permissiveness, omnipotence, loss of control, and fearlessness in the face of possible punishment appears. If these feelings fall on “fertile ground,” the consequences can be dire.

The relationship between alcoholism and crime

Hundreds of monographs, scientific articles, and dissertations by lawyers and doctors are devoted to the issue of the dependence of criminal activity on the presence of alcohol in the body. The statistics of “drunken” crimes in the sphere of juvenile delinquency, crimes against life and sexual integrity, and traffic offenses are especially sad. Three out of four rapes occur while intoxicated. Every second driver was behind the wheel of his car at least once after drinking alcohol, every fourth was involved in a traffic accident due to drunkenness. On average, four out of five intentional murders are the result of drinking alcohol and the accompanying conflicts and disputes.

Law enforcement officials note that during holidays and weekends the number of crimes committed is always slightly higher than during working days.

Alcohol addiction, and the so-called “culture of consumption” that permeates all spheres of life in Russia, is a real scourge of society. Feasts without alcohol cause surprise and rejection. Vacations, trips, vacations, any significant events and purchases should be “washed”, because that’s the custom. Due to such a large-scale and all-encompassing influence of alcohol, the number of “drunken” crimes is steadily growing every year.

Why does a drunk, drunk or sick person tend to break the law?

It is known that the effect of alcohol on the body is expressed by physiological and mental changes. Depending on the stage of intoxication, a person first becomes cheerful, sociable, active, then becomes more courageous and aggressive. Any word, look and action can be regarded by him as a challenge and provocation. In this state, he is easily able to come into conflict with others, and often he himself looks for a reason for a quarrel.

If we are talking about those who abuse alcohol, about binge drinkers and chronic alcoholics, the constant presence of ethanol in the body creates changes in their character and psyche. They become pathologically suspicious, aggressive, or, on the contrary, suppress their own emotions in every possible way, accumulating hidden aggression. Binge alcoholics often suffer from delirium, hallucinations, and withdrawal symptoms. In search of the next dose of alcohol, they, like any drug addicts, are ready to literally do anything.

Clinical picture

What doctors say about alcoholism

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Ryzhenkova S.A.:

I have been studying the problem of ALCOHOLISM for many years. It’s scary when the craving for alcohol destroys a person’s life, families are destroyed because of alcohol, children lose their fathers, and wives lose their husbands. Often it is young people who become drunkards, destroying their future and causing irreparable harm to their health.

It turns out that a drinking family member can be saved, and this can be done in secret from him. Today we will talk about a new natural remedy Alcolock, which turned out to be incredibly effective, and also participates in the federal Healthy Nation program, thanks to which until July 24.(inclusive) the product can be obtained FOR FREE!

Such personality changes are accompanied by a feeling of permissiveness, self-importance, and overestimation of one’s abilities, which is typical for alcohol intoxication.

Accident under the influence of alcohol

The worst category of traffic accidents is those associated with a drunk driver. Exceeding the speed limit, impaired and dulled reactions, deterioration of visual perception, and decreased ability to assess the surrounding situation make a drunk driver a potential killer.

The most dangerous degrees of driver intoxication:

• severe, when a person no longer understands well what is happening, he has a complete lack of reaction to external stimuli, and coordination is severely impaired;
• lightweight, which the driver often does not even attach importance to.

With a mild degree of intoxication, it is its underestimation that leads to terrible results. A person with a slower reaction, blurred visual acuity, increased aggressiveness and self-confidence is no less dangerous behind the wheel than a drunk who can barely stand on his feet.

Juvenile crime, the influence of alcohol on its indicators

Dysfunctional families, parents who abuse alcohol, lack of proper attention from adults to children, deprivation of parental rights and placement in special institutions - children with such a set of life circumstances are prone to early maturation, early sexual intercourse, exposure to cigarettes and alcohol, and severe cases - with drugs. leads to irreparable health problems, including mental health, personal trauma and discord, loss of moral and educational guidelines, and lack of authority.

Teenagers are more prone to drinking alcohol and socially dangerous, immoral behavior due to the characteristics of their psyche. Adolescence, as a stage in the formation of a maturing personality, is usually associated with a search for oneself, tense relationships with parents, and testing the strength of others. A teenager usually feels lonely, misunderstood, abandoned without support. Lack of attention from adults leads to the fact that a minor begins to commit misdeeds and offenses in order to turn the attention of adults to himself. At the same time, excess communication and pressure from parents causes the teenager to feel that he is being limited, that he is not trusted, and that it provokes internal protest and a desire to disobey and break rules and norms.

The appearance of alcohol in the life of a minor during this difficult period affects the blurring of moral guidelines, an exacerbation of the feeling of impunity, euphoria, and one’s own omnipotence. Alcohol intoxication provokes attacks of aggression in adolescents, during which they commit daring acts and offenses.

Alcohol-related domestic crimes and violence

It cannot be stated unequivocally that alcohol consumption becomes the main reason for committing crimes in the home. However, given a combination of alcohol intoxication, a low level of intellectual and cultural development, financial difficulties, and housing problems, a drunk person can perform such cruel and ridiculous actions that would cause horror in him when sober. Some criminals, already in the process of pre-trial investigation and trial, studying the act they committed in an alcoholic stupor, themselves do not believe that they could have done such a thing, blaming alcohol for everything.

An alcoholic in the family is usually a source of family violence. A drunken family member (most often a husband) is capable of beating his partner and children, and humiliating members of the household. The peculiarities of the family culture of Russian residents, unfortunately, contribute to the fact that the details of intra-family conflicts and assault are not usually made public, and, moreover, they are not contacted by law enforcement agencies, seeking punishment for the tyrant. This leads to the fact that a drunken family member continues to commit violent acts, feeling his impunity, until he kills or injures someone in the family.

Our readers write

Subject: She independently cured her husband of alcoholism

From: Lyudmila S. ( [email protected])

To whom: Site administration website

I suffered from my husband’s alcoholism for 20 years. At first it was harmless get-togethers with friends. Soon this became constant, the husband began to disappear in the garage with his drinking buddies.

And here is my story

Once in winter I almost froze to death there, because... I was so drunk that I couldn’t get home, it was lucky that my daughter and I sensed something was wrong, we went to the garage, and he was lying near the half-open door. And it was -17 degrees! Somehow they dragged him home and steamed the bath. They called an ambulance several times, all the time I thought that this time would be the last... Many times I thought about filing for divorce, but I endured everything...

Everything changed when my daughter gave me an article to read on the Internet. You can’t imagine how grateful I am to her for this. literally pulled my husband out of the other world. He stopped drinking alcohol forever and I am already sure that he will never start drinking again. For the last 2 years, he has been working tirelessly at the dacha, growing tomatoes, and I sell them at the market. My aunts are surprised how I managed to stop my husband from drinking. And he apparently feels guilty for ruining half of my life, so he works tirelessly, almost carries me in his arms, helps around the house, in general, not a husband, but a sweetheart.

Anyone who wants to stop their family from drinking or wants to give up alcohol themselves, take 5 minutes and read, I’m 100% sure it will help you!

Criminal liability for crimes while intoxicated

The current Russian legislation does not contain a definition of the concept of “alcohol intoxication”. In legal practice and literature, various interpretations of this category are described, but they all boil down to the fact that this is an inadequate, abnormal condition associated with the presence of disorders of a vegetative and mental nature.

According to the provisions of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, a person in a state of alcoholic or drug intoxication is regarded as a full-fledged subject of a crime, and is able to bear responsibility for his actions. Moreover, alcohol and drug intoxication is not recognized as a circumstance aggravating criminal liability.

This interpretation is not very typical for Eastern European countries, and, in some way, demonstrates the legislator’s loyalty to people who drink alcohol. For example, in Ukraine, the state of alcoholic intoxication is highlighted in a separate paragraph of the article containing a list of aggravating circumstances. That is, the legislator not only has no doubts about the ability of a drunk person to bear responsibility for his actions, he directly provides for a more severe punishment for him for the crime committed.

Drinking alcohol does not always lead to crime. Some alcoholics live their lives quite peacefully, without causing harm to anyone, however, this is rather the exception to the rule. Strong drinks constantly consumed by a person lead to personality disorders, shifts in life and moral guidelines, and an increase in aggression and suspicion. This picture is favorable for committing illegal acts. The peculiarities of criminal liability for “drunk” crimes are highlighted by the legislator of the Russian Federation in a separate norm of the Criminal Code.

Drawing conclusions

If you are reading these lines, we can conclude that you or your loved ones suffer from alcoholism in one way or another.

We conducted an investigation, studied a bunch of materials and, most importantly, tested most of the methods and remedies for alcoholism. The verdict is:

If all drugs were given, it was only a temporary result; as soon as the use was stopped, the craving for alcohol increased sharply.

The only drug that has given significant results is Alcolock.

The main advantage of this drug is that it once and for all eliminates the craving for alcohol without a hangover. Moreover he colorless and odorless, i.e. to cure a patient of alcoholism, it is enough to add a couple of drops of medicine to tea or any other drink or food.

In addition, there is a promotion going on now, every resident of the Russian Federation and the CIS can get Alcolock - FOR FREE!

Attention! Cases of sales of counterfeit drug Alcolock have become more frequent.
By placing an order using the links above, you are guaranteed to receive a quality product from the official manufacturer. In addition, when ordering on the official website, you receive a money-back guarantee (including transportation costs) if the drug does not have a therapeutic effect.

• Social and legal prerequisites for the formation and development of a system for preventing crimes and administrative offenses by internal affairs bodies
  • The doctrine of crime prevention in legal science and its influence on the formation of a system for the prevention of crimes and administrative offenses by internal affairs bodies
  • The main stages of the formation and development of the domestic system for the prevention of crimes and administrative offenses in internal affairs bodies
  • Modern theoretical concepts of crime prevention and their practical implementation in the activities of internal affairs bodies
• Legal and organizational basis for the activities of internal affairs bodies to prevent crimes and administrative offenses
  • The concept of preventing crimes and administrative offenses by internal affairs bodies
  • Legal basis for the activities of internal affairs bodies to prevent crimes and administrative offenses
  • Main directions for the prevention of crimes and administrative offenses by internal affairs bodies
  • Administrative and legal prevention of offenses by internal affairs bodies
    • Administrative and legal measures to prevent offenses by internal affairs bodies
    • Legal characteristics of individual measures of administrative and legal crime prevention
• General prevention of crimes and administrative offenses by internal affairs bodies
  • The concept and main directions of general prevention of crimes and administrative offenses by internal affairs bodies
  • Organization and conduct of general prevention of crimes and administrative offenses by internal affairs bodies
• Individual prevention of crimes and administrative offenses by internal affairs bodies
  • The concept, goals and objectives of individual prevention of crimes and administrative offenses carried out by internal affairs bodies
  • Contents of individual prevention of crimes and administrative offenses carried out by internal affairs bodies
  • Organization of individual prevention of crimes and administrative offenses carried out by internal affairs bodies
• Victimological crime prevention by internal affairs bodies
  • The concept, objects, goals and objectives of victimological prevention carried out by internal affairs bodies
  • Forms and methods of victimological crime prevention carried out by internal affairs bodies
  • Organization of victimological crime prevention carried out by internal affairs bodies
• Prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses of minors
  • Basic social and legal prerequisites for the development of a juvenile delinquency prevention system
  • Organization of activities of internal affairs bodies to prevent crimes and administrative offenses of minors
• Prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses against individuals
  • Organizational and tactical basis for the prevention of crimes and administrative offenses against individuals by internal affairs bodies
  • The main activities of individual services and divisions of internal affairs bodies to prevent crimes and administrative offenses against individuals
• Prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses in the economic sphere
  • Economic offenses as an object of preventive action by internal affairs bodies
  • Legal basis for the prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes in the economic sphere
  • Organizational basis for preventing crimes and administrative offenses against property by internal affairs bodies
  • Organizational basis for the prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses in the field of economic activity
• Prevention of professional and recidivism by internal affairs bodies
  • Professional and recidivism as an object of preventive influence of internal affairs bodies
  • Legal and organizational basis for preventing recidivism and professional crime by internal affairs bodies
  • Prospects for the development of post-penitentiary prevention of recidivism and professional crime by internal affairs bodies
• Prevention of organized crime by internal affairs bodies
  • Organized crime as an object of preventive influence of internal affairs bodies
  • Legal and organizational basis for the prevention of organized crime by internal affairs bodies
  • Main directions of prevention of organized crime by internal affairs bodies
• Prevention of terrorist and extremist activities by internal affairs bodies
  • Terrorism and extremism as objects of preventive influence of internal affairs bodies
  • Legal and organizational basis for preventing terrorist and extremist activities by internal affairs bodies
  • Main directions of prevention of terrorist and extremist activities by internal affairs bodies
• Prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses related to illegal trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives
  • Legal and organizational basis for the prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses related to illicit arms trafficking
  • The main activities of individual services and divisions of internal affairs bodies for the prevention of crimes and administrative offenses related to illicit trafficking in weapons
  • Forms and methods of prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses related to illegal weapons trafficking
• Prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses related to illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
  • Offenses related to drug trafficking as an object of preventive action by internal affairs bodies
  • Legal and organizational basis for the prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses related to drug trafficking
  • The main directions of prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses related to drug trafficking
• Prevention by internal affairs bodies of negative social phenomena associated with crime
  • Negative social phenomena as an object of preventive control of internal affairs bodies
  • Prevention of drunkenness and alcoholism by internal affairs bodies
  • Prevention of prostitution by internal affairs bodies
• Prevention of traffic offenses and crimes by internal affairs bodies
  • Legal basis for the prevention of traffic offenses and crimes by internal affairs bodies
  • Organizational and tactical basis for the prevention of traffic offenses and crimes by internal affairs bodies
    • Administrative and legal measures to prevent road traffic offenses and crimes
    • Criminal law, operational investigative and civil measures to prevent road traffic crimes
    • Organizational measures to prevent crimes and administrative offenses in the field of road traffic
  • Interaction between internal affairs bodies in the prevention of traffic offenses and crimes
• Prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses in the field of environmental protection
  • Legal basis for the prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses in the field of environmental protection
  • Organizational and tactical basis for the prevention by internal affairs bodies of crimes and administrative offenses in the field of environmental protection
    • Criminal legal measures to prevent crimes and environmental offenses
    • Organizational measures to prevent environmental crimes and offenses
• Prospects for the development of a crime prevention system by internal affairs bodies
  • Predictive assessments of crime and the main directions of development of internal affairs bodies as a subject of crime prevention
  • Strategic directions for crime prevention by internal affairs bodies
  • Prospects for interaction between internal affairs bodies and the population in crime prevention

Prevention of drunkenness and alcoholism by internal affairs bodies

One of the distinctive features of the criminological situation in Russia in the late 90s of the XX century. - beginning of the 21st century is a sharp increase in alcohol consumption, a significant increase in associated illegal and immoral manifestations. These negative processes indicate an accelerated growth rate of “drunken” crime compared to general crime. The close connection between drunkenness and crime is well known, and its existence has been pointed out by many researchers of this problem. There are many opportunities to open and discover this interdependence.

In particular, Yu.M. Antonyan notes that it is due to:

• firstly, by the fact that drunkenness, alcoholism and crime are determined by many common causes;
• secondly, alcoholism and crime mutually influence each other: alcoholism is an important condition contributing to crime, and criminal behavior, in turn, contributes to alcoholism 1 Antonyan Yu.M. Violence. Human. Society. M., 2001. pp. 173-174..

Alcoholism is a global phenomenon, surpassing in its severity and prevalence all others associated with drug use (according to the international classification, this is also a drug) combined. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at the end of the 20th century. There were 120 million alcoholics in the world (with “alcohol dependence syndrome”), and the prevalence of the disease was 2%. The alcohol situation in developed countries is different. In all countries where alcohol consumption is officially permitted, the majority of the population drinks.

For example, in the United States, at least 100 million Americans drink alcoholic beverages either regularly or occasionally. Most of them are so-called social, or everyday, drunkards, without obvious signs of alcoholism.

The picture is similar in other countries. So, for example, the number of registered alcoholics in France is from 4 to 4.5 million, in Germany - from 2.5 to 4 million, in Great Britain - from 0.5 to 1 million. In Russia, but some incomplete data , 25 million people are addicted to alcohol.

The ratio of women to men among alcoholics in developed countries of Europe and the USA is between 1:5 and 1:2, although in the recent past it was 1:12. In our country, the ratio of registered alcoholic women and men in the mid-1980s. it was 1:12, in 1991 - 1:9, and by the beginning of the 21st century. was already 1:6. In recent years, the level of alcohol consumption in Russia has increased significantly in all age categories, including children under 12 years of age, and amounted to 5% among 13-14 year olds, 10% among 15-16 year olds and 26% among young people under the age of 18 years, while no more than 8% are aware of the potential threat of alcoholism.

Specific criminological studies also confirm the fact that women not only follow a parallel course with men in consuming alcoholic beverages, but also with greater acceleration. In Russia, according to this indicator, there may be complete equality between women and men. The emancipation of women is a progressive phenomenon, but, like any progress, it has shadow sides. The major German researcher E. Kraepelin believed that if addiction to alcohol spreads among women as widely as among men, then the descendants will be in danger of complete destruction. Apparently, Russia will still have a significant reason to remember the prediction of this famous scientist.

Drunkenness and alcoholism, according to WHO expert estimates, rank third among the causes of mortality in the world. This fully applies to Russia, but with one significant amendment: in the Far North of Russia, alcoholism is the main cause of death 2 Levin B.M. The main factors of alcoholism in society under conditions of social change // Sociological Research. 1997. No. 4. P. 108..

This problem has not spared minors either. Specific studies show that 92% of high school students have tried alcohol, 1/3 drank systematically, and more than 1/3 occasionally got drunk to the point of heavy intoxication.

The above and other data indicate that currently the problem of excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages in many countries has acquired a national character. On the one hand, they have become an indispensable attribute of various celebrations, and on the other hand, they turn out to be the direct cause of violations of public order, an increase in crime, a decline in morality, economic damage to society, and a decrease in the level of public health.

In Russia, the process of formation of alcohol orientations and views on alcohol consumption took place over a long period of time and was determined by economic, national, religious, socio-psychological, psychophysiological and sociocultural factors. Historical and legal sources indicate that one of the factors in the spread of drunkenness in Rus' was a clear contradiction between strict punitive measures directed against troublemakers and a liberal attitude towards criminals who committed a crime while intoxicated. It is no secret that those in power deliberately contributed to the spread and establishment of drunkenness among the people, because the sale of alcohol and the maintenance of various kinds of drinking establishments provided a good income. In addition, in Russia, drunkenness has been preserved as the result of a deeply rooted “drinking tradition.”

Of particular interest is the alcohol situation in the mid-80s of the last century and the consequences of the then “revolutionary” measures to eradicate drunkenness. Adopted by the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Government in May 1985, the resolution “On measures to overcome drunkenness and alcoholism” and the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On strengthening the fight against drunkenness” contained an extensive set of organizational, economic, administrative, legal and educational measures. The press, radio, television, literature, and art actively participated in anti-alcohol propaganda. The anti-alcohol campaign launched in the country, unprecedented in its scope, initially brought positive changes in the alcohol situation.

There was a noticeable decrease in the crime rate, but the lack of a scientifically based program of practical actions, attempts to speed up the implementation of directives, report on implementation, distortion of the forms and methods of the anti-alcohol fight ultimately led to serious negative consequences (closing factories, cutting down vineyards, etc.).

However, let us return to the assessment of drunkenness and alcoholism as objects of preventive influence of the internal affairs bodies and first try to determine the content of the terms used in the context of our problem.

Drunkenness is excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages (in medicine, such synonyms of this term are used as alcoholism, domestic drug addiction). The term “alcohol” comes from the Arabic word formation “olke-gol”, meaning “intoxicating”. Alcohol, having a direct toxic effect on the human brain, contributes to the disintegration of the intellect and motivational sphere, emotions and will, increased excitability, looseness, cynicism, insolence, rudeness, anger, aggressiveness, explosiveness, mood instability, emotional coldness, inertia, subordination, inconsistent deceit, not admitting guilt in any situation, loss of attachment to family members, distrust, narrowing the range of interests, moral deformation, distortion, weakening of the memorization process, narrowing the scope of attention, inaccuracy and primitiveness of judgments, slowing down of thinking, reducing the level of generalizations, impoverishment, destruction of needs with an increase in their coercive power, restructuring of behavior to satisfy needs, sexual perversions, etc. 3 Spasennikov B.A. Compulsory medical measures. St. Petersburg, 2003. P. 260.

As a rule, an increase in the dose of alcohol leads to an increase in incoordination of complex systems of perception, processing and comprehension of information, adequate orientation in the external environment. Increasing the toxic effect on the brain disrupts an adequate emotional assessment of one’s actions. Often, purposefulness and coordination of movements, meaningfulness of speech are lost, and consciousness is depressed.

In the Encyclopedic Dictionary and the Medical Encyclopedia, alcoholism is defined as a chronic disease caused by the systematic consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is expressed by physical and mental dependence on alcohol, mental and social degradation, pathology of internal organs, metabolism, central and peripheral nervous systems. Over time, a painful addiction manifests itself as an uncontrollable desire for alcohol, which begins to guide the patient’s behavior 6 Popular medical encyclopedia. M., 1987. P. 18..

In forensic psychiatric practice, it is customary to distinguish between simple alcoholic and pathological intoxication. Intoxication is a set of negative mental and neurological disorders resulting from acute poisoning by psychoactive substances 7 Kharitin D.F. Intoxication // Forensic psychiatry. M.: Norma, 2000. P. 151.. A state of intoxication can lead to mental disorders of a person, which is expressed in the weakening of the highest and most complex mental functions. Intoxication reduces a person's control over their actions and the ability to resist the influence of others. Unchangeable motives and instincts act as the dominant behavior.

A person who has taken alcohol in such an amount that causes a complex of short-term disorders of higher nervous activity of varying intensity, altering normal reactions to the surrounding external environment, as a result of which a known danger arises both for the intoxicated person and for those around him, should be considered intoxicated. 8 Evlampiev V.S., Uvarov I.A. Criminological problems of combating drug addiction in the penitentiary prevention system. Monograph. M., 2000. P. 180..

In the first case, the following are distinguished: mild, moderate and severe degrees of intoxication.

For a mild degree of intoxication, a heightened perception of the surrounding world is typical, intellectual processes are disrupted (attention is upset, reactions slow down, thinking becomes less logical). Criticism is reduced, mood is unstable, short temper, irritability and anger may occur. From a preventive point of view, an intoxicated person becomes more impulsive and strives for the quick implementation of emerging ideas and desires. Sexual and other disinhibitions are noted. In general, control over behavior is maintained and the person does not commit illegal actions.

With an average degree of intoxication, attention is sharply impaired and becomes distracted. There is a lack of clarity and differentiation of perception. Intellectual processes proceed at a slower pace. Primitive drives are revived, especially sexual ones. Persons in a moderate degree of intoxication are often aggressive and angry, which often leads to fights and scandals.

A severe degree of intoxication is expressed by the clinical picture of increasing stupor. Subsequently, deep sleep occurs. Memories of the period of intoxication are fragmentary. In this state, these individuals have increased victimization.

Alcoholism in the social sense is excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, which has a harmful effect on health, everyday life, work and the well-being of society. Research conducted in Russia in recent decades has shown that each subsequent generation begins consuming alcoholic beverages at an earlier age than the previous generation did. The population is becoming more and more accustomed to this. To the question of the editors of the newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets” “How to fight drunkenness in Russia?” The majority of readers surveyed responded as follows:

• it's useless - 60%;
• send alcoholics to compulsory treatment - 22%:
• introduce criminal liability for public drinking - 14%;
• introduce “prohibition” - 4%.

The results of this survey quite frankly indicate the pessimistic ideas prevailing in our society regarding the way out of the current situation with drunkenness and alcoholism in the country.

Everyday behavior of an individual, an element of which is the consumption of alcoholic beverages, is determined not only by the life conflicts of a particular individual (dissatisfaction with work or inability to use free time, poor living conditions or unrequited love, holidays, joyful events, etc.), but also by specific social, economic and political changes in the life of society. This process becomes especially painful during a period of fundamental transformations in society, during a period of changing life and government priorities. A rapid social change, regardless of its direction, always leads to an increase in deviant behavior, including the alcoholization of society. E. Durkheim considered this dependence to be a regularity.

The currently observed wide availability of alcoholic beverages has become an independent and quite significant factor in the further alcoholization of the population, a serious reason for more intensive consumption of alcohol on the streets and in public places, among adolescents and young people. According to the WHO expert committee, the widespread availability of alcoholic beverages significantly reduces the number of people who abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages and doubles the number of heavy drinkers with persistent illegal behavior. There appears to be every reason to believe that this situation has not improved at all.

Today, alcohol abuse, drunkenness and alcoholism continue to pose a threat throughout the country. But Russians have practically stopped reacting adequately to this danger. Over the past more than 10 years, all possible mechanisms for curbing alcohol consumption have been sharply weakened in the country: state, legal, cultural, religious, and everyday. The steps taken are quite often ill-conceived and, as a result, ineffective 9 Boyko I.B., Yurov G.A. Problems of "drunken" crime. M.; Ryazan. 2007. P. 14..

Alcoholism and drunkenness are a complex social phenomenon. This complexity and diversity is evidenced by the fact of a stable commitment to alcohol from a wide variety of social strata and professional groups of the population, people of different social status, material wealth, educational level, age, and gender. Factors influencing the prevalence of alcoholism are very diverse.

In Russia, the development and spread of the drinking business largely determined the content of alcoholic traditions and customs. As a result, the following was traditional in the use of alcoholic drinks:

• consumption of mainly strong alcoholic drinks;
• preference for single consumption of alcohol in large doses;
• the desire to achieve a state of severe intoxication as quickly as possible;
• moral judgment of persons who abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages 10 Lebedev S.Ya. Traditions, customs and crime. M., 1995. P. 25..

One more aspect of the relationship between drunkenness and alcoholism should be paid attention to. As is known, by the beginning of the 21st century. The general price index for food products in Russia increased 1229 times, and for alcoholic products - only 421 times, i.e. vodka and liqueurs were and still are relatively cheap goods.

However, statistical data show that at the beginning of the 21st century. The production capacity of distilleries was loaded at 42%, distilleries - only at 26%. In this regard, the country annually received 2 times less payments to the budget for excise taxes on ethyl alcohol, alcohol-containing and alcoholic products. Meanwhile, according to expert estimates, the net profit of criminal structures involved in the alcohol business is about a billion rubles every month.

There is an opinion that the “shadow” turnover of products in Russia accounts for about half of all alcohol produced. The entry into illegal circulation of cheap and low-quality alcoholic beverages produced in underground workshops not only complicates the crime situation and causes economic, but also serious moral and political damage, and entails negative social consequences. A Russian consumer who purchases counterfeit alcohol products not only suffers material losses, but also jeopardizes his health, including mortality from alcohol poisoning.

The high profitability and rapid turnover of funds invested in the alcohol business attracts an increasing number of not only individual offenders, but also organized criminal groups. The production and circulation of ethyl alcohol and alcoholic products is one of the most criminalized areas of the economy.

Eliminating the causes and conditions contributing to this negative phenomenon largely depends on the improvement and effectiveness of administrative, civil, labor and criminal legislation, as well as the activities of law enforcement agencies and, in particular, internal affairs agencies to prevent this negative phenomenon.

Prevention by internal affairs bodies of offenses committed due to drunkenness and alcoholism is carried out both at the general preventive and at the individual preventive levels.

An important area of ​​preventive work regarding drunkenness and alcoholism is law enforcement control of internal affairs bodies in public places. Planning and carrying out measures to ensure public order on streets, squares, parks, public gardens, train stations, highways, and stadiums allow police officers to apply preventive measures to persons who are intoxicated, to stop the drinking of alcoholic beverages in specified places, and to stop crime at an early stage of their commission. When detaining such persons, police officers use the norms of administrative legislation.

The Law of the Russian Federation “On the Police” provides for the rights of police officers to deliver to medical institutions or police duty stations persons who are intoxicated in public places and have lost the ability to move independently or navigate the environment. Such persons are kept in the specified places until they sober up. Here they receive the necessary medical care.

Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the fact that the current administrative legislation provides for administrative penalties for violations of anti-alcohol legislation. This group includes the offenses provided for in the relevant articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation: 14.16-14.18, 20.20-20.22. The number of such offenses in 2007 increased compared to 2005 from 8,975,326 to 10,785,260 (+20.2%), and the share in the total number of offenses registered by internal administrative bodies was 14.2% and 15%, respectively. .

The largest share among the identified administrative offenses falls on two elements: Art. 20.20 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation “Drinking beer and drinks made on its basis, alcoholic and alcohol-containing products, or consumption of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances in public places” - 26.3% and 30.8%; Art. 20.21 “Appearing in public places while intoxicated” - 72.0% and 68.9%.

The peculiarity of the objective side of the offense provided for in Art. 20.20 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, is that a person is in a public place not just drunk, but in a manner that offends human dignity and public morality. The behavior of such a person while intoxicated clearly violates generally accepted norms (obscene statements or gestures, rude shouts, annoying harassment of citizens, etc.).

The offender is in a public place in an indecent manner (dirty, wet, unbuttoned clothes, unkempt appearance, causing disgust and disgust). Due to intoxication, the person has completely or largely lost the ability to navigate (stands aimlessly or moves aimlessly from place to place, coordination of movements is impaired); The drunk may become completely helpless (insensible state).

Of great importance for the prevention of crimes committed while intoxicated is the use of preventive measures that were applied to the persons who committed them before the crime was committed. Thus, individual studies show that the nature of such measures was very diverse:

• preventive measures - 24.2%;
• fines - 14.8%;
• correctional labor - 3%;
• administrative arrest - 5.8%;
• the use of public measures - 25.2%;
• others - 27%.

It should also be borne in mind that a significant number of offenses while intoxicated are recorded in the area of ​​violation of traffic rules. Thus, every year 10-12% of road accidents occur due to the fault of drivers under the influence of alcohol.

In the direction of preventing the drinking of alcoholic beverages, cases of drunkenness, eliminating the conditions of the day of concentration of drunkards in public places, ensuring strict control over compliance with restrictions on the sale of alcohol, and preventing drunkenness among minors, the relevant public security police units (precinct commissioners, employees of departments for juvenile affairs, duty units, patrol service).

As practice shows, the largest amount of this complex and painstaking work has to be performed by the service of local police commissioners. In accordance with the requirements of Order No. 900 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia dated September 16, 2002, which approved the Instructions for organizing the activities of the district commissioner, the district police officer is obliged to identify the organizers or keepers of dens for the consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, prostitution, as well as persons involving minors in committing crimes and other antisocial actions, including the systematic use of alcoholic beverages, intoxicants, prostitution, vagrancy or begging.

In accordance with paragraph 9.13 of the Instructions, the local police commissioner is also obliged to identify persons who commit offenses in the sphere of family and household relations, use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances without a doctor’s prescription, chronic alcoholics, mentally ill people who pose an immediate danger to themselves and others, take them to timely preventive, legal and medical measures for these persons in order to prevent them from committing crimes and administrative offenses. Such persons are placed on preventive records, and preventive work is carried out with them. When implementing the prevention of drunkenness, it is especially necessary to prevent it, especially in everyday life.

The work of the local police commissioner in the timely identification and registration of persons who abuse alcoholic beverages at home, and further monitoring of their behavior at the place of residence is an effective means of preventing drunkenness at the stage of early prevention.

Juvenile affairs units identify persons who involve minors in committing crimes and antisocial acts, or who commit other illegal acts against minors. These units identify minors who drink alcohol, use drugs non-medically, places where they are concentrated, possible sales, acquisition and consumption; identify persons who involve minors in the use of alcoholic beverages and drugs.

Anti-alcohol propaganda plays a significant role in the prevention of drunkenness and alcoholism, in which the media play an important role. The interests of preventing criminal and other socially negative consequences of drunkenness and alcoholism urgently require the development and systematic implementation of a comprehensive, comprehensive, balanced, well-calculated anti-alcohol policy.

In the work on the prevention of drunkenness and alcoholism, based on the analysis of scientific and educational literature, several global directions can be identified, the implementation of which should become a prerequisite and, in a certain sense, a guarantee of successful anti-criminogenic preventive work of internal affairs bodies:

• the formation in society of an ideological attitude that alcohol abuse is a social evil. This requires: organizing anti-alcohol education in schools and families; revival of the system of legal, moral, religious education; organization of anti-alcohol propaganda, etc.;
• development of medical measures to prevent drunkenness and treatment of alcoholism, explaining to the population the medical aspects of drunkenness and alcoholism, involving people who have recovered from alcoholism in health education activities, using effective scientific methods for the prevention and treatment of alcoholism;
• development of the sphere of leisure, physical education and sports, introduction of elements of a healthy lifestyle into the national culture; improving the quality of alcoholic beverages produced in the country and imported, strictly suppressing the production and import of low-quality alcoholic products and semi-finished products; impact on the culture of alcohol consumption, suppression of alcohol consumption on the streets and in public places, gradual replacement of strong alcoholic drinks with low-alcohol and non-alcoholic ones.

People who have a craving for alcohol break the law more often than others. A drunk person behaves inappropriately. The result of weakening self-control can be harm to one’s own health and the health of others.

A person who sobers up the next morning cannot explain yesterday’s aggressive behavior. However, a crime committed due to alcoholism is not a mitigating circumstance. The person will bear criminal and administrative responsibility for his actions in full.

Predisposition to crime

• Addiction to alcoholic beverages pushes a person to break the law.
• Persons who have lost their moral character begin to live completely differently.
• Crimes are not only committed by people with severe forms of alcoholism.
• Single consumption of alcohol can also cause a crime.

Causes of crimes due to alcoholism

• According to statistics, a third of all crimes are committed after drinking alcohol.
• The reasons for this lie in the effect of ethanol on the human body.
• Ethyl alcohol disrupts the functioning of all organs and systems without exception.
• The toxic substance harms the brain and interferes with its normal functions. The psychological state of a person changes beyond recognition.

1. Unmotivated aggression.
   A person who has exceeded his norm feels euphoria and a surge of strength, which are gradually replaced by irritability and aggression. The ability to think normally is impaired. Man creates conflicts out of nowhere. Aggressiveness pushes to resolve them using force. A person who abuses alcohol has reduced self-control, which is why crime among drinkers is so high.
2. Weakening of sexual control.
   After drinking alcohol, sexual desire increases. If refused or resisted, a person suffering from alcoholism may resort to violence and commit a crime of a sexual nature.
3. Drowsiness and apathy.
   Hot temper and aggression are replaced by fatigue and weakness. Coordination of movements is impaired. In this state, a person can become the cause of an accident or its victim, or start a fire in the apartment. Crime resulting from negligence is a common occurrence among alcohol drinkers.
4. Psychological degradation of personality.
   The moral character of people who drink alcohol for a long time changes beyond recognition. They lose their families and jobs, and gradually sink to the social bottom. Crime is not uncommon among people suffering from chronic alcoholism. To find money, they steal, distribute drugs, and engage in prostitution.

Types of crime

1. Causing harm to health.
   More than 80% of domestic crimes are committed while drinking alcohol. The cause of crime due to alcoholism is weakening of self-control, aggression and irritability. The drunkard's thinking is clouded, and he builds cause-and-effect relationships incorrectly. A verbal quarrel between drinking relatives and friends can end in physical violence. Data on Russian crime are disappointing: violation of the law due to alcohol is particularly brutal. Piercing, cutting and other improvised objects are used. Both relatives of the drinker and strangers become victims of crime due to alcoholism.
2. Road accident. The majority of civilian deaths in all countries are due to road traffic accidents. Crime on the roads due to alcoholism continues to rise. It is no coincidence that traffic rules prohibit driving a car if ethyl alcohol is detected in the body (in a concentration above 0.3 ppm). Even in a state of light drinking, a person’s reaction, which is so necessary on the road, is reduced. A person suffering from alcoholism can commit an unintentional crime on the road: hitting a pedestrian, causing an accident. Even if there are no casualties in the accident, the drunken culprit will be deprived of his rights in court.
3. Theft, robbery.
4. Prostitution.
5. Drugs spreading.
6. Rape.
7. Hooliganism.

The influence of people suffering from alcoholism on overall Russian crime rates is great and continues to grow. A drunk person is dangerous not only for others, but also for himself. Most suicides in Russia occur after alcohol abuse.

Reducing the growth of crime due to alcoholism

The problem of drunk people breaking the law is of a national nature.

Alcoholism and drunkenness violate the right of other citizens to life and safety. They can become victims of crimes of a very different nature.

Drunkenness is a social disease that requires treatment.

The reduction of crime due to alcohol abuse is facilitated by the consciousness of citizens and the desire to get rid of cravings for alcohol. If a person cannot do this on his own, it is enough to seek help from specialists.

An effective method of combating alcohol addiction and its consequences (including crime) was developed by Allen Carr. In his book, the author explains in accessible language the mechanism of occurrence and the harm of addiction to alcohol. To get rid of addiction, it is enough to carefully study the methodology and follow the recommendations. The book can be purchased in online stores or downloaded for free.