Cheap alcohol leads to violent crime, say ‘experts’. Where’s the evidence?

Stanley Cohen, the legendary criminologist and author of Folk Devils and Moral Panics, once commented on ‘the unique dilemma of the moral entrepreneur who has to defend the success of his methods and at the same time contend that the problem is getting worse’. The eager activist cannot afford to solve the problem he is paid to tackle – but nor can his methods be seen to fail too blatantly.

One problem that is manifestly not getting worse in Britain is violent crime. Every measure of violent crime has been in retreat almost continuously for 20 years. This is a dilemma for those who fretted about the effects of so-called ’24 hour drinking’ and it is a challenge to those who continue to fret about the ‘pocket-money prices’ at which alcohol is supposedly sold.

Year after year, the Office for National Statistics announces another drop in the rate of assaults, woundings and murder. Year after year, the news is spiked with revisionist history and dark warnings about the years ahead.