The relationship between alcohol consumption and the desire to own a firearm: an empirical study on citizens of São Paulo city, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of this study was to investigate the association between alcohol consumption (use and bingeing) and the desire to own a firearm for protection.

Study design: We used data from three random cross-sectional victimisation surveys conducted in São Paulo city, Brazil, in 2003, 2008 and 2013 with people aged ≥16 years.

Methods: We performed tests for equality of proportions. Our analysis was performed separately for each victimisation survey to check the robustness of the results. We also used probit models, estimated by the maximum likelihood method, to analyse the relationship between desire to own a firearm and alcohol consumption, controlling for many other variables.

Results: In 2013, although only 1.5% of the population surveyed reported living in a household with a firearm, 15.7% report that they would possess a firearm if they could, and 13.0% believed they would be safer/more protected from violence if they had a firearm. The desire to own a firearm is higher among people who consume alcoholic beverages than among those who do not and is higher as alcohol binge frequency increases.

Conclusion: In São Paulo city, alcohol consumption and binge drinking are positively associated with the desire to own a firearm.

Keywords: Alcohol; Binge drinking; Firearms; Guns; Violence.