Abstract
The purpose of this research was to study the situation and trends of sex crimes in relation to consumption
of alcoholic beverages as well as to explain the types of sexual abuse carried out while under the
influence of adolescents and youth in Thailand. The sources of information were cases related to sex
crimes which appeared in print media over the past 10 years (between B.E. 2541-2551) and from the collection
of qualitative data from in-depth interviews. The sample group consisted of 15 adolescents and youth
at the Central Observation and Protection Center, Nonthaburi who committed sex crimes.
From the research it was found that information from print media portrayed the number, violence,
and complications of sex crimes related to the increased consumption of alcohol in Thailand, at three fold
over the past ten years. The age of victims and perpetrators is greatly varied, with the age of victims
between 4-102 years old and of perpetrators between 15-76 years old. From information on the perpetrators
it was found that the ages are decreasing and are increasingly youth or adolescents. The crimes mostly
take place at night and the abuse reported in print media the most is rape. The majority of the crimes are
carried out by known people, especially family members.
From interviewing youth who carried out crimes, it was found that 13 of 15 drank alcoholic beverages
2-3 hours before committing the crime and ¯ drank with the victims. Drinking alcoholic beverages
plays a role in bringing together groups which lead to planning and thinking of committing crimes. An
interesting point found was that perpetrators did not drink to get drunk (20-30 grams of pure alcohol), but
to become confident and brave enough to carry out the crimes without any consideration.
Recommendations from this study include the need to be more rigorous and strict with using related
laws such as forbidding the sales of alcohol to people under 20 years old according to the Royal Decree on
Control of Alcoholic Beverages, B.E. 2551. Information on sex crimes and other crimes need to be collected
and there information on alcohol consumption of the perpetrators should be collected as well. This is
because alcohol is related to sex crimes and other crimes. There should be measures to publicize and
change attitudes in society regarding alcohol consumption and sex crimes are not a normal aspect in
society.
