title: Self-governance, control and loss of control amongst drink-drivers.
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 guilt 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).
authors: SFI and Department of Sociology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, PO Box 2099, DK - 1015 Copenhagen K, Denmark. mj@soc.ku.dk
authors: Margaretha
authors: M
authors: Järvinen
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Fynbo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D057229:Alcoholics / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003242:Conscience; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D003718:Denmark; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D012941:Social Responsibility; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult