Alcohol and criminal responsibility

Alcohol and criminal responsibility is a topic that has divided public opinion and courts for years. Some argue that intoxication reduces awareness and control, so the perpetrator does not act fully consciously, which should result in a lighter sentence. Others emphasize that drinking is always a conscious choice, so alcohol cannot be an excuse. There is also hypocrisy – the state earns millions from the sale of alcohol and then relentlessly punishes those who break the law under its influence. It is worth noting that in some countries the degree of intoxication is genuinely taken into account when determining the severity of the penalty, which further fuels the debate. Should alcohol therefore be considered a mitigating circumstance?