Nightlife, verbal and physical violence among young European holidaymakers: what are the triggers?

Summary

Objectives

There is an established relationship between nightlife, substance use and violence. This study investigated this relationship when people are on holiday, and explored the differences in experiences between physical and verbal violence.

Study design

A survey of young tourists at seven airport departure areas in Southern European resorts.

Methods

Questionnaires from 6502 British and German tourists were analysed exploring demographics, violence (verbal and physical), substance use, and reasons for resort and venue selection.

Results

Over two-thirds of respondents reported being drunk on their holiday, 12.4% had been involved in arguments and 2.9% had been involved in fights. Logistic regression highlighted more violence amongst visitors to Mallorca [arguments: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.7; fights: AOR 2.0] compared with those visiting Portugal, males (arguments: AOR 1.3; fights: AOR 1.7), those who had used illicit drugs (arguments: AOR 1.5; fights: AOR 2.9), those who had been in fights at home in the last 12 months (arguments: AOR 2.2; fights AOR 2.9), and those who had frequently been drunk abroad (arguments: AOR 2.4; fights: AOR 2.5). Those aged 16–19 years, visiting Italy or Crete, who were drunk for fewer than half of the days of their stay, and who chose bars because they were frequented by drunk people were more likely to report having an argument. Fights were associated with cannabis use and were negatively associated with choosing bars with a friendly atmosphere. Economic status or frequency of visiting bars had no relationship with arguments or fights.

Conclusions

Understanding and addressing the variables involved in violence when holidaying abroad is critical in targeting appropriate health promotion and harm reduction measures.

Introduction

Worldwide, over one million people die every year due to violence; it is the leading cause of death for 15–44 year olds.¹ In Europe, youth violence is typically associated with alcohol consumption.² In England and Wales, one-fifth of all violence occurs in and around nightlife premises,³ peaking on weekend nights.⁴ In a 2007 study among young Spaniards, it emerged that, in the previous year, 5.2% of participants had carried weapons, 11.6% had been assaulted or threatened, and 23% had been in a fight whilst in a nightlife setting.⁵ Factors that can increase alcohol consumption and related harm (such as violence) in nightspots are multiple, and include densely concentrated alcohol outlets, over-crowding, nightlife or alcohol promotions, and poorly maintained venues.6, 7 Half of all violence in England and Wales is thought to occur after the offender has been drinking.⁸

In tourist nightlife resorts, young people who had used cocaine and those who had been drunk at least five times per week were more than twice as likely to have been involved in a fight after accounting for demographic factors.⁴ Young people tend to increase their substance use when abroad, although illegal drug use may decrease if the drugs are difficult to obtain.⁹ Tourists tend to take more risks when abroad.¹⁰ This phenomenon is known as ‘situational disinhibition’.¹¹

The majority of the published evidence around nightlife violence focuses on physical fights,4, 12, 13 yet violence also occurs in other forms such as arguments, verbal assault, insults or threats. This study aimed to differentiate between experiences of verbal and physical violence when abroad in Southern European resorts, by comparing the types of people likely to be involved (substance use, past involvement with violence, nightlife involvement and demographic characteristics) and the context of their trip (type of resort, characteristics of the venues).