Three out of 10 drinkers have experienced harms from their alcohol drinking — including financial difficulties, health consequences and getting involved in fights.
In addition, one in six have suffered the consequences from someone else’s drinking, such as family problems, property damage, or assaults.
Experts at the Health Research Board said these issues were not just those of problem drinkers, but the large swathe of people who consider themselves light or moderate drinkers.
The National Alcohol Diary Survey found that 30% of people said they had experienced negative consequences as a result of their own drinking, while 17% said they had suffered at the hands of someone else’s drinking. In terms of self-inflicted harms, the rate was highest among young people aged 18-24 (56%) and was higher among men (36%) than women (24%).
Details of the harms show:
- 20% experienced financial harm (39% among young people);
- 16% suffered health problems (25% among young people);
- 10% experienced work or study issues (26% of young people);
- 9% had domestic issues (11% of young people);
- 9% had a physical fight (18% of young people);
- 6% had been stopped by police (12% of young people).
Within the 18- to 24-year-old group, it was young men who suffered the most, with 23% having been in a physical fight and 16% stopped by police.
The clear gender difference almost disappeared when it came to people suffering the consequences of someone else’s drinking, breaking down at 18% of men and 16% of women.
Source: Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner, 24/06/14
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