Joining the dots between alcohol and domestic violence

Another Budget has passed in which the links between alcohol and domestic violence are not accounted for, and the alcohol industry has not been made to pay for the damage its product causes, write Rachel Fayne, Michelle Walsh and Sheila Gilheany

Thu, 23 Oct, 2025 - 00:36

Rachel Fayne, Michelle Walsh and Sheila Gilheany

The starting point for any conversation regarding alcohol and its role in domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is to state unequivocally that alcohol is not, and never will be, an excuse or explanation for DSGBV.

Many people consume alcohol and do not perpetrate violence against their partner or children, and not all who perpetrate domestic violence use alcohol. Unfortunately, what we do know is that alcohol acts as a commercial accelerant of violence and research shows that, in incidences of domestic abuse, it appears the role of alcohol is one of a facilitative nature, a contributing factor.

DSGBV remains a pervasive issue in Irish society, impacting women, men, and children in diverse and devastating ways. However, the reality is that domestic violence is overwhelmingly perpetrated against women, and against children.

Up to 35% of women in Ireland, more than one in three, have experienced psychological, physical and/or sexual abuse from an intimate partner and according to Women’s Aid ‘Femicide Watch’, 276 women have died violently between 1996 and the present day (as of September 30, 2025).

Shockingly, it remains the case that the most dangerous place for women is their own home as the nightmare of violence and abuse most commonly will be at the hands of a current or former intimate male partner.

Many studies have demonstrated significant associations between alcohol consumption and rates of criminal violence, and we can say with some confidence that more drinking tends to result in more violence, and less drinking tends to result in less violence.

There are estimates of alcohol being a factor in up to 70% of domestic violence incidents in Ireland. International research also demonstrates links between domestic violence and big sporting occasions as well as bank holiday weekends with their associated marketing and increases in alcohol consumption.

The inverse is also true. Studies in Australia have found that a two-hour reduction in late night alcohol trading hours in the late 2000s was associated with a 29% drop in reports of domestic violence as well as with sustained reductions in non-domestic assaults.

The consistent link between alcohol and domestic and gender-based violence has led to the recognition of alcohol as a “risk factor” for intimate partner violence by the World Health Organisation. However, in Ireland, there appears to be a reluctance to acknowledge this issue in policy making, and organisations working in the DSGBV space will tell you first hand of this failure.

Men Overcoming Violence

MOVE — Men Overcoming Violence — work in the area of domestic violence, with a primary aim of supporting the safety and wellbeing of women and their children who are experiencing, or have experienced, violence/abuse in an intimate relationship. They do this by facilitating men in a weekly group process that involves them taking responsibility for their violence and changing their attitude and behaviour.

The staff at MOVE see daily the significant danger many women and children are exposed to by living with DSGBV and understand that alcohol can lead to detrimental outcomes and accelerate risk. Indeed, in 2023 they found that drug and alcohol use was a factor in 50% of their referred cases.

Therefore, what we can say is that alcohol use is one of the most consistent risk factors for domestic violence.

Such horrific situations are compounded by a shortage of resources in terms of domestic violence shelters, but also of programmes, like MOVE, which seek to engage perpetrators and make them take responsibility for their actions and change attitudes and behaviours.

Currently, many of MOVE’s programmes cannot accommodate new entrants until 2026, this is despite daily calls from men seeking help for their actions, especially those for whom alcohol use has made their conduct worse. However, without the capacity for MOVE to help them, it means women and children are living in danger, with the risk of issues exacerbating due to alcohol very live.

Alcohol and drug use should never be used as an excuse for domestic abuse, but it is important to acknowledge that the presence of alcohol or drug use in an abusive relationship is a complicating factor that not only makes it more difficult for both the victim survivor and perpetrator to receive support but also leads to increased risk of serious injury or homicide.

Women who use alcohol or drugs are two to five times more likely to experience gender-based violence than the general population. Organisations such as SAOL, who work with women who experience severe and multiple disadvantage, estimate that 90% of women who access their services have had a lived experience of gender-based violence.

Inextricable link

For many women their experience of substance use and domestic abuse is inextricably linked. It is therefore crucial that government and policy makers acknowledge that for many individuals their keyworker in their addiction service will be the first person to become aware of the domestic abuse. It is so important that those keyworkers are trained and resourced as to how to respond.

As one academic paper has pointed out: “Ignoring the presence of alcohol will neither eliminate its role in intimate partner violence nor prevent its being used as an excuse for violence. On the contrary, the more we know about how alcohol affects violence, including intimate partner violence, the better able we will be to develop effective prevention strategies and treatment responses.”

Given the scale of the issues in Ireland it is essential that we advocate for proven policy solutions, including reducing alcohol use — which is recognised by the World Health Organization as an important strategy for reducing violence against women — amongst other policies. It is of note that the national government in Australia in 2024 agreed to review all alcohol legislation with a view towards reducing family violence.

Government silence

Critically, we cannot forget the thousands of children who witness domestic abuse — they are victims in their own right and in need of immediate support, such as through the introduction of Operation Encompass, a Garda-led, school-based early intervention safeguarding scheme designed to support children and young people who experience domestic abuse, the traumatic impact of which can last a lifetime.

This programme has been under consideration by government for years but with no clear implementation date.

Furthermore, while alcohol is clearly a feature of much violence and trauma in Ireland, this is hidden in government policy and action. This has been highlighted by Senator Patricia Stephenson who has pointed out in the Seanad that the current 'zero tolerance' strategy on DSGBV does not reference alcohol at all.

This silence gives the alcohol industry a free pass to recklessly promote their products and demand access to more selling opportunities. There will be a new DSGBV strategy from 2026 where there is a real opportunity to join the dots and ensure that alcohol’s green card in this area is revoked.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

In early October AAI, MOVE and SAOL went to Leinster House to break the silence and brief TDs, senators, and political staff on the importance of recognising the role of alcohol in DSGBV. We had hoped that our activism and advocacy over the past number of months would have seen robust measures in Budget 2026 to match the scale of DSGBV and alcohol harms in the State.

Unfortunately, what was announced amounted to a drop in the ocean — €11.5 million in additional funding for domestic and gender-based violence initiatives for a sector already buckling under the demand for services, and no increase in alcohol excise duties.

This is unfortunate given a 15% increase in excise duties would have delivered an additional €189 million for the public purse, money that is badly needed to deal with the multiple harms where alcohol plays a role — including DSGBV services. It is disappointing that another Budget has passed where these issues have not been addressed and where the alcohol industry has not been made to pay more towards the harm its product causes.