DOI - Mendel University Press

DOI identifiers

DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-082-5-0235

Alcohol Consumption and Crime: A Regional Perspective

Ivana Olecká ORCID...1
1 Faculty of Security and Law, Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague, Departement of Criminology, Lhotecká 7, 143 01 Praha 4, Czech Republic$1

This paper examines the nexus between alcohol consumption, public disorder, and crime within the framework of the Broken Windows Theory. Wilson and Kelling's (1982) thesis is not merely a criminological proposition, but a reflection on the vulnerability of social order: when small signs of neglect appear, the symbolic fabric that binds communities can begin to weaken. Variations in drinking culture are expressions of deeper social and cultural structures, which shape how communities experience safety and cohesion. In certain contexts, alcohol becomes a marker of conviviality; in others, it serves as a visible reminder of disorder and marginalization. Public drinking, vandalism, and other alcohol-related behaviours can therefore be interpreted not only as minor infractions, but also as signals of disorder that gradually affect perceptions of belonging and security. An important dimension of this process is the normalization of alcohol use, particularly among children and adolescents. When drinking is treated as routine or socially acceptable in youth culture, it may contribute to a gradual loosening of norms and reduce the willingness of communities to respond to disruptive behaviours. Rather than advocating simple repression, this contribution emphasizes the importance of preventive and restorative strategies that strengthen shared responsibility for public order. Security cannot be sustained solely by institutions; it requires practices that reinforce people's connections to place and community. Regional resilience thus depends on creating environments where everyday practices, including drinking, support rather than weaken the social bonds that hold communities together.

Keywords: Alcohol-related Crime, Broken Windows Theory, Normalisation of Alcohol, Regional Variation, Social Cohesion

pages: 235-245, online: 2026



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