RESPONSIBILITY FOR CRIME AND INJURY WHEN DRUNK

The aim of this paper is to highlight the complexity in the connection between alcohol intoxication and responsibility for crime from a mult idisciplinary approach comprising medical, legal and criminological pe rspectives. There is no doubt that there is a connection between viole nt behaviour and alcohol intoxication. However, several investigations show that alcohol heightens aggressiveness only when the drunken pers on is provoked. A case which may serve as a model when discussing lega l responsibility for acts carried out when drunk is outlined. Ethical considerations are discussed and exemplified concerning the motive, as well as the principles, of punishing an intoxicated perpetrator. Howe ver, there are no definite solutions concerning what is right or wrong , and each reader will have his own opinion, which may well differ fro m that of the author.