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‘It’s a crutch’: A qualitative exploration of UK police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol consumption or abstinence

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

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‘It’s a crutch’: A qualitative exploration of UK police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol consumption or abstinence. / Irizar, Patricia; Jackson, Leanne; Gage, Suzanne H et al.
In: Policing: Journal of Policy and Practice, Vol. 17, paac052, 01.01.2023.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Irizar, P, Jackson, L, Gage, SH, Bell, S, Piper, R, Fallon, V & Goodwin, L 2023, '‘It’s a crutch’: A qualitative exploration of UK police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol consumption or abstinence', Policing: Journal of Policy and Practice, vol. 17, paac052. https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paac052

APA

Irizar, P., Jackson, L., Gage, S. H., Bell, S., Piper, R., Fallon, V., & Goodwin, L. (2023). ‘It’s a crutch’: A qualitative exploration of UK police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol consumption or abstinence. Policing: Journal of Policy and Practice, 17, Article paac052. https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paac052

Vancouver

Irizar P, Jackson L, Gage SH, Bell S, Piper R, Fallon V et al. ‘It’s a crutch’: A qualitative exploration of UK police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol consumption or abstinence. Policing: Journal of Policy and Practice. 2023 Jan 1;17:paac052. Epub 2022 Sept 14. doi: 10.1093/police/paac052

Author

Irizar, Patricia ; Jackson, Leanne ; Gage, Suzanne H et al. / ‘It’s a crutch’ : A qualitative exploration of UK police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol consumption or abstinence. In: Policing: Journal of Policy and Practice. 2023 ; Vol. 17.

Bibtex

@article{5cb378e2a14d447fbd9751a95717c271,
title = "{\textquoteleft}It{\textquoteright}s a crutch{\textquoteright}: A qualitative exploration of UK police employees{\textquoteright} experiences of at-risk alcohol consumption or abstinence",
abstract = "One-third of UK police employees drink to at-risk levels, with both at-risk drinking and abstinence being associated with poor mental health. This research aimed to qualitatively explore police employees{\textquoteright} experiences of at-risk alcohol use or abstinence, their motivations for drinking/abstaining, and the organizational culture of drinking. Semi-structured telephone interviews with 16 UK serving police employees (12 at-risk drinkers, four abstainers) were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Five themes were identified. Participants described the {\textquoteleft}organizational culture of drinking and changes over time{\textquoteright}, outlining a cultural shift. Motivations for drinking were reflected across two themes, {\textquoteleft}alcohol as a coping mechanism{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}alcohol and socializing{\textquoteright}, with an additional theme representing {\textquoteleft}motivations for abstinence/cutting down{\textquoteright}. The final theme highlighted the {\textquoteleft}contrasting perceptions of available support{\textquoteright}. Though the drinking culture is no longer as prominent, using alcohol socially and to cope, is normalized. The implications and recommendations for practice are outlined.",
keywords = "Law",
author = "Patricia Irizar and Leanne Jackson and Gage, {Suzanne H} and Sean Bell and Richard Piper and Victoria Fallon and Laura Goodwin",
year = "2023",
month = jan,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1093/police/paac052",
language = "English",
volume = "17",
journal = "Policing: Journal of Policy and Practice",
issn = "1752-4512",
publisher = "Oxford University Press",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - ‘It’s a crutch’

T2 - A qualitative exploration of UK police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol consumption or abstinence

AU - Irizar, Patricia

AU - Jackson, Leanne

AU - Gage, Suzanne H

AU - Bell, Sean

AU - Piper, Richard

AU - Fallon, Victoria

AU - Goodwin, Laura

PY - 2023/1/1

Y1 - 2023/1/1

N2 - One-third of UK police employees drink to at-risk levels, with both at-risk drinking and abstinence being associated with poor mental health. This research aimed to qualitatively explore police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol use or abstinence, their motivations for drinking/abstaining, and the organizational culture of drinking. Semi-structured telephone interviews with 16 UK serving police employees (12 at-risk drinkers, four abstainers) were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Five themes were identified. Participants described the ‘organizational culture of drinking and changes over time’, outlining a cultural shift. Motivations for drinking were reflected across two themes, ‘alcohol as a coping mechanism’ and ‘alcohol and socializing’, with an additional theme representing ‘motivations for abstinence/cutting down’. The final theme highlighted the ‘contrasting perceptions of available support’. Though the drinking culture is no longer as prominent, using alcohol socially and to cope, is normalized. The implications and recommendations for practice are outlined.

AB - One-third of UK police employees drink to at-risk levels, with both at-risk drinking and abstinence being associated with poor mental health. This research aimed to qualitatively explore police employees’ experiences of at-risk alcohol use or abstinence, their motivations for drinking/abstaining, and the organizational culture of drinking. Semi-structured telephone interviews with 16 UK serving police employees (12 at-risk drinkers, four abstainers) were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Five themes were identified. Participants described the ‘organizational culture of drinking and changes over time’, outlining a cultural shift. Motivations for drinking were reflected across two themes, ‘alcohol as a coping mechanism’ and ‘alcohol and socializing’, with an additional theme representing ‘motivations for abstinence/cutting down’. The final theme highlighted the ‘contrasting perceptions of available support’. Though the drinking culture is no longer as prominent, using alcohol socially and to cope, is normalized. The implications and recommendations for practice are outlined.

KW - Law

U2 - 10.1093/police/paac052

DO - 10.1093/police/paac052

M3 - Journal article

VL - 17

JO - Policing: Journal of Policy and Practice

JF - Policing: Journal of Policy and Practice

SN - 1752-4512

M1 - paac052

ER -