Saturday, August 29, 2015

USC Coach, Cosby & Menorah Vandal: Reconsidering Drinking Defenses


Recently, USC’s football coach made a public appearance while inebriated. Later, he tried to explain that he was also taking medication, implying that this may have enhanced his poor public image. Alcohol is a major theme in Bill Cosby’s apparent sexual assaults. The implication is that consent is more freely given when alcohol is involved. The menorah vandal, now identified and the subject of a criminal damage complaint, says that he was under the influence of alcohol. Of course, these are very different scenarios, but in all three cases, the wrongdoer deflects responsibility for his judgment or criminal intent. The three cases, while different, suggest that alcohol defenses should not be accepted at face value.

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