The range and magnitude of alcohol's harm to others

• Laslett Anne-Marie, and others
• Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation

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27 August 2010This research provides both a broad overview and detailed insight into the problems the drinking of others has on Australians. 

The impacts from the drinking of others vary dramatically.  At one end of the spectrum Australians are affected by nuisance inconveniences, such as street noise or having to avoid public parks, or petty costs from damaged property. At the other end harms can be severe, such as child abuse or physical violence or death. The public health impacts of alcohol from others’ drinking are of major concern. This report addresses a number of critical questions: How many Australians are affected by others’ drinking? Who is affected? What is the relationship between those who have been affected and the drinker? How are Australians affected or harmed? What are the costs for others – in trouble, in time, in money? This report provides a first set of answers to such questions.

Answers to these questions stem from a variety of data collected by social and health agencies, including police data, road crash morbidity and mortality data, death statistics, hospital records, child protection agency data, and alcohol and drug services and helpline data. Data from previous population surveys are also analysed.  And much data in the study comes from a special survey of more than 2,600 Australian adults who answered detailed questions about their experiences and consequences from the drinking of others.

Authors: Anne-Marie Laslett, Paul Catalano, Tanya Chikritzhs, Caroline Dale, Christopher Doran, Jason Ferris, Thameemul (Ansari) Jainullabudeen, Michael Livingston, Sharon Matthews, Janette Mugavin,  Robin Room, Morgan Schlotterleinand Claire Wilkinson.