Young offenders and alcohol: a survey of the drinking behaviour of a Borstal population.

The results of a survey, based on previous Scottish studies, of the drinking behaviour of 100 English Borstal trainees are reported. It was found that a large proportion (38 per cent) of the young offenders in the sample reported drinking immediately before committing either their present or a previous offence. Whilst little evidence for different criminal behaviour in this "alcohol group" was found, substantial differences in drinking behaviour were reported and examined. These differences included amount typically drunk, frequency of drunkenness and motivation for drinking. It is suggested that whilst a direct causal relationship between alcohol and crime remains to be satisfactorily proved, the present results strongly indicate the need for alcohol treatment programmes in young offender establishments and seek to contribute towards a basis from which such programmes might be built.