Violent behaviour under the influence of alcohol is a long-known phenomenon and causes great suffering in affected persons and enormous costs for society. While earlier studies considered alcohol-associated violence primarily to be due to alcohol's disinhibiting effects, recent scientific studies show a complex interaction of various bio-psycho-social factors. Including recent study results, the following review presents current data on the epidemiology of alcohol-associated violence, discusses possible contributing factors and causes, and possible resulting therapeutic implications. Based on these results, populations at risk such as binge drinkers, young adults and individuals with substance use disorders and comorbid psychiatric disorders can be identified, who often display a high burden of problems and therefore need a close network of medical, psychiatric and social services.
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