Abstract
This paper analyses driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs (DUI) from a governmentality perspective. The paper is based on qualitative interviews with 25 persons, convicted of drink-driving and at the time of the interviews participating in Alcohol/Traffic courses in Denmark (mandatory courses for DUI-convicted people). Four drink-driver profiles are identified: regular heavy drinkers who regard themselves as addicted; regular drinkers who claim they are in control of both their alcohol use and their drink-driving; occasional multi-substance users who associate their DUI with strong feelings of control loss; and occasional drinkers or drug users with limited experience of drink-driving. The paper analyses drink-driving as a form of " failed self-governance" and shows how some of the convicted drink-drivers negotiate quilt and blame by either justifying their DUI (they were " in full control" and hence did not risk other people's lives) or excusing it (they had " lost control" over their alcohol and/or drug intake and therefore did not engage in DUI of their own free will).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | International Journal of Drug Policy |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Pages (from-to) | 437-444 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| ISSN | 0955-3959 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2011 |
