The urgency for studying Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is underscored by its alarmingly high violence rates, which surpass other world regions. Despite representing only 8% of the global population, LAC accounts for approximately one-third of global homicides. In a recent publication in The British Journal of Criminology, we studied the relationship between national-level alcohol consumption and homicide rates in the region, unveiling important insights that require immediate attention by policy makers.
Why focus on alcohol and violence?
Alcohol consumption in LAC is among the highest globally. Per capita consumption in the Americas more broadly is ~8.4 L annually, which is higher than the global average, and risky drinking in LAC specifically is among the highest in the world. The large LAC region also has one the most heterogeneous regional alcoholic beverage preference (e.g., spirits, beer, wine) by nation, and Figure 1 shows the region’s preference changed over the last 65 years. LAC is now one of the world’s biggest beer consumers.
Figure 1. Mean per Capita Consumption of Total, Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Other Alcohol in LAC, 1961–2019
In our study we examined data from 22 LAC nations for nearly six decades, from 1961 through 2019. We tested three pathways through which population-level alcohol consumption may be associated with national total, male, and female homicide victimization rates in LAC: Total consumption, beverage-specific consumption, and risky drinking.
The findings: alcohol and homicide are linked, but the details matter
Heavy drinkers suffer and inflict a large proportion of alcohol-related harm in a society, and per capita consumption is highly correlated with heavy drinking prevalence. Therefore, greater total consumption often means a larger number of heavy drinkers, more drinking occasions, more intoxication occasions, and thus more harm. Study results showed:
1. Total Alcohol Consumption and Homicide Rates: There is an association between total per capita alcohol consumption and homicide rate. Results showed that for every 1-liter increase in total consumption there was an increase of about 1.35 homicides per 100,000 residents. The effect was stronger for males than for females.
2. Beverage-Specific Effects: Not all beverage consumption has the same impact on homicide rates. Contrary to previous research in other parts of the world, our study found that population-level spirits consumption was not associated with national homicide rates in LAC. Beer and wine consumption, however, were associated with homicide. Results showed that beer consumption was associated with national male homicide victimization rates, while wine was associated with both male and female homicide rates.
3. Risky Drinking Patterns: Alcohol-related harm in a nation may be less a function of total consumption amount and more of consumption pattern. Contrary to the total consumption model, high population consumption does not always translate to more harmful drinking. Two nations may have similar per capita consumption, but in Nation A this amount could result from many more drinking occasions with less alcohol in each, while in Nation B there are fewer drinking occasions but a larger amount of alcohol in each. There is greater drinking to intoxication in the latter, increasing the risk of negative outcomes, including violence. This study found that LAC nations with riskier drinking patterns—where heavy episodic drinking is more common—had significantly higher total, male, and female homicide victimization rates. This suggests that how people drink is at least as important as how much and what type of alcohol they drink.
Why does this matter?
These findings reveal the importance of examining region-specific causes of violence. Focusing specifically on LAC allows for a richer interpretative lens by considering how its political, geographic, social, and cultural contexts’ influence violence generally, and its relationship with alcohol consumption. For example, the region may have social settings where alcohol is often consumed, such as festivals, traditional events, and sports (e.g., fútbol), where emotions may run high and increase the chances of violence. Our study also looks at femicide in the region and the complex relationships there between alcohol, sports, and domestic violence.
Broader implications
This study is not only about the alcohol-homicide relationship but also about understanding the broader context of LAC, recognizing the importance of regional nuances, discovering region-specific associations, and determining if any associations in LAC are consistent with those found elsewhere. These findings are important for legislators and others creating policy and designing interventions aimed at curbing violence in the region, especially when considering the differential effects for beverage type and for male and female homicide victimization rates.
What can be done?
There must be a multifaceted approach to address the connection between alcohol and homicide in LAC:
- Implementing and Enforcing Alcohol Control Policies: To reduce alcohol-related harm in LAC nations, policymakers should consider limiting consumption and risky drinking in social settings where there is a higher risk of violence. Other research suggests that restrictive alcohol control policies that limit consumption after certain hours or during specific events in countries like in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru reduce homicide.
- Industry Regulation: Privilege population health by limiting the strong influence in many LAC nations of the alcohol industry on alcohol policy.
- Support for At-Risk Groups: Further develop support services and prevention measures that may reduce alcohol-related violence, especially among men. There must also be a focus on preventive measures for alcohol-related violence against women.
- Further Research: More studies are necessary for understanding the nature of the alcohol-violence relationship in the region. These studies should assist policymakers and others in tailoring more effective policies and interventions within the context of the region and each nation. This must include rigorous evaluation of these measures to develop evidence-based practices.
Conclusion
The relationship between alcohol consumption and violence rates in LAC is complex and deeply rooted in the region’s social fabric. Our study sheds light on this critical issue, offering valuable insights that can guide efforts to reduce violence in the region. By understanding and addressing the specific ways in which alcohol contributes to violence, there is hope for reducing harm and creating safer communities across LAC.
Witten by Guillermo Jesús Escaño, Assistant Professor, Sociology and Criminology Department, Villanova University, and Dr William Alex Pridemore, Department Head and Franklin Professor of Sociology, University of Georgia.
Escaño, G. J., & Pridemore, W. A. (2024). Population-level alcohol consumption and homicide rates in Latin America: A fixed effects panel analysis, 1961–2019. The British Journal of Criminology, 64(3), 656-674. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azad056
All IAS Blogposts are published with the permission of the author. The views expressed are solely the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Institute of Alcohol Studies.