A Study Into the Influence of Alcohol on Crime Rate in Arua District, a Case Study of Arua Municipality

Abstract

The study explore the influence of alcohol on crime rate in Arua district under the following objectives: To established whether criminal in Arua municipality commit crimes under the influence of alcohol, to find out why there is increasing alcohol consumption in Arua municipality and to find out the possible solution to alcohol abuse in Arua municipality.

The study uses a survey research design. Data was gathered using structured self administered questionnaires to key respondents. 76 people were interviewed and they were; 10 criminals, 10 youths, 43community members and elders, 10 police officers and 3municipal authorities. Qualitative data was analyzed through error checking, omissions in the data were also rectified and edited, processed by making inferences to each question as well as the available literature in order to compare and contrast different opinions are presented by different respondents.

The study found out that most crimes committed in Arua municipality were under the influence of alcohol, majority of respondents agreed that crime rate and alcohol abuse are related. Notably majority of the respondent pointed out that there is increasing alcohol consumption in Arua municipality. community members and elders strongly agreed and agreed that alcohol consumption is on the rise. It was further found that alcohol consumption is on the rise and becoming abnormal and the reason ranges from cultural norms, unemployment, peer pressure, poverty, unregulated alcohol uses, availability and easy access to alcohol, limited information of harmful use of alcohol which fuel crime rates in Arua

The study concluded that alcohol regulation has not been taken seriously due to the following reason, Government is ripping big from alcohol related taxes, breweries companies are ripping big from increasing alcohol consumption because their sales are highs hence big capital return, brew of alcohol is source of livelihood to many Ugandan and there are limited research on the danger of alcohol consumption in Uganda, no law regulating alcohol uses, consumption, sale and brew.

The study therefore recommends massive community sensitization on the danger and the harmfulness of alcohol consumption so that communities change their perception and adjust their cultural belief and norms. Enactment of by-laws regulating sales, uses and marketing of alcohol by the municipal authorities and the government. Increased funding to police for community policing so that some of the crimes which could have been avoided are avoided. Support to village saving and loan association (VSLA) as a way of fighting biting poverty in the municipal and saving for their children school fees and family livelihoods, and providing mental health clinics to deals with alcohol related problems

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