Alcohol and domestic violence

Abstract

Domestic violence is a social phenomenon that affects to an increasing number of women in Spain, due to the influence of the most traditional socio-cultural patterns and prejudices based on the disparity between genders. It exists a general tolerance attitude regarding domestic violence against women, with no distinctions of the socio-economic status, education level, age cohorts or marital status that give as a result a physical, sexual and psychological damage. The analysis is focused on the different actions carried out by public administrations and non-governmental organisations regarding violence and alcohol both in Spain and the European Union. It is highlighted the lack of clear policies about problems related to alcohol, as they focus instead on the impact of illegal drugs, acting carelessly when raising consciousness to the public opinion about the danger that means the education and care of children when being inebriated and its impacts in violence. It is stated the lack of contribution and, therefore, of ignorance of the data referred to the incidence of alcohol in publications about domestic violence when it would have acted as an unchaining factor. The research finishes with the measures that need to be taken against alcohol and violence.