Drinking alcohol to excess does not cause abuse or excuse abusing a partner – that is the message from the North East Hampshire Domestic Abuse Forum. Becoming drunk is often given as an excuse for causing violence to a partner but excessive drinking is a separate issue to domestic abuse.

Karen Evans, chair of the North East Hampshire Domestic Abuse Forum, explained: “Alcohol abuse does not cause domestic abuse and violence, though it is often used as an excuse for the violence. Not all alcoholics are violent and not all abusers have a drink problem. An abuser may be an alcoholic, but that is a separate issue to the abuse.

“It is often perceived that alcohol and domestic violence are cause and effect and any increase in domestic violence incidents is often attributed to an increase in alcohol consumption. A person who is not a domestic abuser will not be abusive whether they are drunk or sober, whereas someone who is a domestic abuser is likely to be abusive whether drunk or sober. Alcohol is not the cause of either abuse or violence.

“Individuals may want to believe that the excessive alcohol is causing the abuse, because it is easier to understand someone who has ‘lost control’ and is not really responsible for the abuse. It allows people to believe that the abuse will stop if the alcohol problem is addressed, but this is not the reality for most people.”

Councillor Robert Tate, Chair of the Safer North Hampshire Community Safety Partnership*, said: “The reality is that the majority of abusers are not alcoholics – this type of person uses alcohol to excuse part of the wider abusive behaviour.

“This is not acceptable and there are no excuses for domestic abuse or violence. Help is available and I urge everyone who fears they are in a domestic abuse situation – whether as a potential victim or as a potential perpetrator, to proactively seek help and support now.”

For more information and support, contact the HOMER drug and alcohol services on 0300 124 0103.

The National Domestic Abuse helpline can be contacted on  0808 2000 247; 0808 801 0327 (male victims); 0300 999 5428 (LGBT victims) and 0808 802 4040 (perpetrators).