It is difficult to see a continuation of the 'blame the victim' dialogue among some of the posts here. Yes rape is a risk, yes alcohol heightens chances of rape occurring. But let's be clear, female alcohol consumption is not CAUSATIVE in a rape event, it simply puts a woman in a place where she can be more easily victimised by someone with the intent to victimise. If you are not drunk in this context you are less at risk. Research in the US indicates that some men like to get drunk women whilst socialising to up the chances of being able to gain sexual access to her. She doesn't have to be conscious and the idea of consent is certainly not in the equation. (see Fraternity Gang Rape: Sex, Brotherhood, and Privilege by Sanday)

But let's get really clear here. Men CAN control themselves. They are not driven by their sexual desires to the point that they lose control. They are not hormonally driven to the point where they cannot stop themselves trying to have sex because someone is drunk and wearing a short skirt. If they were god forbid, what a mess the world would be in if they were running around trying to have sex because they couldn't control themselves. Plenty of men are able to control themselves in this way. If men were biologically driven in this way, all men would display these traits.

It shouldn't matter if a woman is drunk or not. A man can control himself not to have sex with her. If she is drunk and he is not, then perhaps it might not be such a bad thing to exercise some of that control.

Here we are demanding that young women control their behaviours even further than they already are. They are constrained by rape dialogues, sti dialogues, being called a slut dialogues - I could go on. Research supports the concept that alcohol is used as a facilitator to sex so that young people can escape some of the social stigma that comes with casual sex decision making. Why should we penalise young women for this by saying don't drink more, and not young men?

This is a social dialogue - it is not simply the responsibility of young women to change their behaviour to avoid danger. It is men's responsibility to stop being the source of that danger.

And its a cop out to blame the victim.

The blame for the rape lies with the rapist.

The rapist can, despite what many would have you believe, be male or female.

If you get drunk, shag someone and then regret it in the morning, it is not rape - regardless of your gender. Yes ladies, sometimes us guys regret it too.

A lot of people seem to be missing the point. The point of this story is that increasing numbers of women are being raped while horrendously drunk. This does NOT mean that these women are getting drunk, having consensual sex, and then crying rape in the morning. While I am sure this does happen occasionally, incidences of drunk girls being coerced into sex are all too common.

Some people have even assumed that since a lot of the rapes take place in the homes of the victims or the perpetrators, they must be cases where the female has willingly had sex and regretted it. I'm sure if you did some research you would discover that shock! horror! many, if not most rapes occur at the homes of the victims or the perpetrators. And that most rape victims know their rapists.

I remember reading a news story on stuff a little while ago where Police estimated that 2-3% of all rape complaints were false. Many of the commenters here speak as if people just make rape complaints for fun. As if girls who regret having sex are vindictive enough to be willing to go to the police, make a complaint, and testify in court. I'm sure testifying against your rapist would be a terrible experience. As well, rape is notoriously hard to prove; it is all too often the complainant's word against the defendant's.

That is of course, why most (estimated to be 80-90%) of all rapes go unreported, coupled with the fact that society is full of rape apologists determined to blame the victim for the crime. These comments here make it pretty damn clear that that is the case.

Let me be clear: rape is not about sex. It's about power, and taking power away from someone else. Rape is inexcusable; yet people are commenting all over the place making excuses for men who have sex with drunk girls who are flirty and wear little clothing.

Your attitudes place the blame on rape victims, encouraging them to blame themselves and to not report rape. I bet that the number of unreported rapes outnumber false reports by the thousands. Your views and comments ensure that rapists get away with it. All the time.

You can't put the blame on the men,the amount of girls i see when i'm behind the bar that just flirt with a guy all night and then walk off to do it to someone else.they should be in enough control of themselves to say no. And men should have the morals to stop once a girl says no. you can't just blame the males though because its easier to place the blame.

To number 100 (xLeahx) #111 01:43 pm Jul 13 2009

My post was completely accurate. It's a shame that people like you insist on putting their head in the sand and ignoring the world around them. I bet you're one of those "it would never happen to me" people. Fact is - it does happen. Another fact is - if you act in a certain way, the chances of something happening to you are dramatically increased.

It's a shame that so many people, like yourself, want to insist that we live in a perfect world - when we DON'T. Wise up.

Also, try reading my post again. I didn't say anyone deserved to be assaulted. I said 'chances are'. How DARE you assume your abuse towards me is somehow relevant to the issue? Shame on you.

I agree whole-heartedly with Sarah. Though there isn't anything justifying in a girl getting plastered, that doesn't mean that a man has the right to take advantage of her. I doubt a woman would willingly let a man sexually assault her, intoxicated or not. The blame falls on both the man and the woman, though I think it falls more so on the man. But, I concede to part of scrooge's point. Girls shouldnt be going around getting drunk stupid, but the problem doesnt start with them. THE PROBLEM is men sexually assaulting intoxicated young women, not young women getting intoxicated. That's another issue in itself.

Do women have the right to be out late and get trashed without being assaulted? Absolutely! Do people have the right to own expensive household items and not get burgled? Absolutely! But, if I did get burgled after leaving my front door wide open, I would not get a lot of sympathy because I did not make the effort to protect my property - regardless of my right not to get burgled. Bottom line: crime is wrong, but it's also a reality; take responsibility for your actions to minimize the chance of becoming a victim.

Nobody is condoning rape, but if someone has sex when drunk and regrets it afterwards it is NOT rape.

However, it would seem that some correspondents still cling to that quaint nation that only men should have responsibility.

grls have 2 relise tht there r some very sick ppl ot there tht dont care about ur rights and tht by wearing the things tht u do and acting how u do brings u 2 there attion. just read some of the replys!

Drinking is legal; rape and sexual assault are not. This article places the blame entirely with the victims for daring to imbibe alcohol - actually the fault for rape is entirely the rapists. What next - women in short skirts, women who've dared to dance with someone etc, etc are to blame for being attacked? Instead of trying to contain women and stop them having fun on nights out - as men are able to do with no criticism - we should be trying to find out why some men rape and what needs to be done to stop them.