Alcohol-related violence as an explanation for the difference between homicide rates in Finland and the other Nordic countries

Abstract

■ Aims The article examines the links between alcohol consumption, drinking habits and the high homicide rates in Finland today from the point of view of the structure of homicides and the social status of the people involved in them. The Finnish situation is compared with that in the other Nordic countries, especially in Sweden. ■ Methods The links between alcohol and homicidal crime are examined from the point of view of three main factors: the relative and absolute numbers of intoxicated offenders and victims, and regular substance abusers among offenders, and the patterns of victim-offender relationships. By combining the information, a general picture is formed of the significance and absolute levels of alcohol-connected homicides and what kinds of population groups are responsible for these crimes in each of the Nordic countries. ■ Results Although the Finnish annual homicide rate is triple that of other Nordic countries, the social background and structure of homicidal crime are very similar in Finland, Sweden and Norway. In all the three Nordic countries the crimes are committed mainly by alcoholic, unemployed men living on the fringe of society. It also seems that the difference in the crime level between Finland and its Scandinavian neighbours is mainly caused by the alcohol-related violence of this group; the volume of other types of homicide is more or less the same. ■ Conclusion Alcohol may explain, at least to some extent, the higher Finnish homicide rates compared to other Nordic countries, however, the linkage between alcohol consumption and violent crime is in today's Finland very similar to that in Sweden and Norway. Consequently, it is unlikely that the differences in the homicide rates would be caused directly by the differences in the general drinking cultures. Instead of looking for general cultural behaviour models to explain the higher rate of homicide, one should ask why middle-aged alcoholics appear in larger numbers in Finland than in other Nordic countries, and why they behave more violently.