“The literature suggests that alcohol contributes to violence by enhancing the likelihood of conflicts, reducing inhibitions and providing a social space for punishment at the family level. (Alcohol) appear(s) to be a […] trigger of violence in some contexts but must be addressed within the broader context of gender inequality.” Papali’i John Taimalelagi Afele, CEO, MJCA, Inquiry written submission, Inquiry document 32 A simple way of looking at this matter is that if alcohol ceased to exist overnight, family violence would not suddenly stop. There may be a slight decrease but the underlying causes of gender inequality, power and control would remain. This means all that had been achieved was a small reduction due to removing one of the triggers which contributes to the prevalence of violence. INQUIRY FINDING 42: The common misconception of alcohol as a ‘cause’ rather than a ‘trigger’ contributes to the culture of impunity, allowing perpetrators to ‘blame the booze’ rather than take personal responsibility for their actions. This misconception also deflects attention from the true causes of family violence – gender inequality and power and control. However, it is not just the misconception around the role of alcohol which should be addressed – the role it plays itself should not be completely dismissed. After all, if family violence can be reduced in any way then it should for the simple reason of reducing suffering among victims and taking steps to ‘de-normalise’ it as a type of behaviour. Alcohol (or drugs) was found to be present among 24% of perpetrators of violence against women and girls for all cases between 2007–2014.119 Accordingly, this demonstrates that family violence happens far more frequently when alcohol is not present than when it is. These figures support the findings made in 1996 by the now defunct NGO Mapusaga o Aiga which reported 19% of perpetrators being drunk when the offence occurred. 120 Therefore, whilst alcohol is not a primary cause it is present in a sizable minority of cases and a thorough understanding of when it acts as a trigger can help to reduce the prevalence of family violence. The notion that alcohol causes family violence is wrong, as the Inquiry has found. But the assertion that it is a trigger for family violence is also an over-simplification. After all, many people drink and never lay a finger on their family members, or speak to them in a way which constitutes verbal abuse or emotional violence. Upon closer inspection it becomes obvious that it is alcohol abuse, not alcohol itself which triggers family violence in the man. 119 “Exploring violence against women and girls in Samoa.” Fallen Lizard Films (an analysis of data provided by MOP Policy & Planning Division and the Domestic Violence Unit). Document 117 Inquiry anthology. 120 SPC and UNFPA. (2006). Samoa Family Health and Safety Study 2000. Document 83 in Inquiry anthology, accessible at www.ombudsman.gov.ws.