PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA LAW REFORM COMMITTEE Criminal Liability for Self- Induced Intoxication REPORT Ordered to be Printed Melbourne Government Printer May 1999 No 53 Session 1998–99 Parliament of Victoria, Australia Law Reform Committee Melbourne Bibliography ISBN 0-7311-5265-4 Cover Design & Graphics: Paul Angus ii C OMMITTEE M EMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN *Mr Victor Perton, MP DEPUTY CHAIR *Mr Neil Cole, MP MEMBERS *Mr Florian Andrighetto, MP (Chairman Subcommittee) Ms Mary Delahunty, MP *Hon Carlo Furletti, MLC Hon Monica Gould, MLC *Mr Noel Maughan, MP Mr Alister Paterson, MP *Mr Tony Robinson, MP * denotes membership of Criminal Liability for Self-Induced Intoxication Inquiry Subcommittee The Committee’s address is — Level 8, 35 Spring Street MELBOURNE VICTORIA 3000 Telephone inquiries — (03) 9651 3644 Facsimile — (03) 9651 3674 Email — [email protected] Internet— http://www.lawreform.org.au iii iv C OMMITTEE S TAFF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH Mr Douglas Trapnell RESEARCH OFFICER Ms Jenny Baker OFFICE MANAGER Ms Angelica Vergara v vi C ONTENTS Committee Membership........................... ............................................................................................... iii Committee Staff ........................................................................................................................................v Chairman’s Foreword .............................................................................................................................. xi Functions of the Committee.................................................................................................................... xv Terms of Reference ...............................................................................................................................xvii List of Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... xix 1 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................1 Scope of the Inquiry.....................................................................................................................1 Current Law in Victoria ................................................................................................................2 Background to the Inquiry............................................................................................................4 Terms and Concepts ...................................................................................................................7 Common Law and Code Jurisdictions............................................................................7 Elements of Criminal Offences .......................................................................................7 Conduct Element ............................................................................................................7 Automatism.....................................................................................................................9 Mental Element.............................................................................................................11 Self-Induced Intoxication ..............................................................................................13 Gross Intoxication .........................................................................................................13 2 HISTORICAL REVIEW..............................................................................................................15 The Law Prior to the Nineteenth Century ..................................................................................15 The Nineteenth Century.............................................................................................................17 Twentieth Century Authorities....................................................................................................21 vii Modern Authorities .................................................................................................................... 23 3 AUSTRALIAN JURISDICTIONS ............................................................................................... 27 Common Law Jurisdictions ....................................................................................................... 28 New South Wales...................................................................................................................... 31 The Commonwealth .................................................................................................................. 36 Australian Capital Territory........................................................................................................ 38 South Australia ......................................................................................................................... 39 The Code States ....................................................................................................................... 42 Queensland and Western Australia ............................................................................. 42 Tasmania...................................................................................................................... 46 Northern Territory......................................................................................................... 49 4 OVERSEAS JURISDICTIONS.................................................................................................. 53 United Kingdom Recent Developments ................................................................................... 53 New Zealand ............................................................................................................................. 54 Canada...................................................................................................................................... 56 Germany.................................................................................................................................... 59 Austrian and Swiss Law ............................................................................................................ 61 The Netherlands........................................................................................................................ 62 Conclusion................................................................................................................................. 63 5 ALCOHOL AND VIOLENCE ..................................................................................................... 65 Psychological and Physiological Effects of Alcohol and Drugs ............................................... 65 Classes of Drugs.......................................................................................................... 65 Relationship between alcohol and crime ..................................................................... 71 6 OPTIONS FOR REFORM......................................................................................................... 75 Option 1—The Majewski Option ............................................................................................... 76 Arguments against Adopting this Option...................................................................... 77 viii Option 2—The Creation of a Special Offence ...........................................................................84 Previous Proposals for the Creation of a Separate Statutory Offence............85 The Butler Committee (UK) ..........................................................................................85 Minority Proposal of the Criminal Law Revision Committee (UK) ................................88 The United Kingdom Law Commission: Intoxication and Criminal Liability..................90 Law Reform Commission of Victoria 1986 ...................................................................94 Section 154(1) of the Criminal Code (NT) ....................................................................96 Current Consideration of the Enactment of a Special Offence of Committing a Dangerous and Criminal Act while Grossly Intoxicated................................................96 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................100 Option 3—Intoxication as Mental Impairment..........................................................................102 Option 4—The O'Connor Principles ........................................................................................103 Arguments Against the O'Connor Principles ..............................................................104 Arguments for Retaining the O'Connor Principles......................................................106 Option 5—Intoxication as an Element in Criminal Trials .........................................................115 Option 6—Jury to Hear all Indictable Offences if the O'Connor Principles are Raised...........117 Option 7—Sentencing Options ................................................................................................119 Option 8—Evidence of Propensity and Intoxication ................................................................124 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................................127 APPENDICES Appendix A List of Submissions ..........................................................................................131