Epidemiological issues in alcohol-related violence.

Epidemiological research on alcohol and violence exhibits a number of methodological limitations. This is the case whether it is event based (i.e., based on samples of victims and/or perpetrators of violence) or based on samples of the general population. The chapter identifies some of the limitations that confront researchers, policymakers, and other end-users of the research. The methodological issues are illustrated by exploring one type of violent event-rape-and one general population study-Kai Pernanen's research on alcohol-related violence in a Canadian community. It is argued the epidemiological research would benefit from further qualitative research on the natural history of violent events.