One in four Irish people have
experienced problems because of someone else’s drinking, according to a new
report on the extent of harm caused in society by alcohol.
Alcohol’s Harm to Others in Ireland was
published by the HSE today. It examined alcohol harm to people other than the
drinker in three Irish settings – the general population, the workplace and
children and families.
The report
confirmed there is very significant harm associated with alcohol, extending far
beyond that experienced by the person drinking, in each of these settings. Women are more
likely to experience family problems while men are more likely to report
assaults due to other people’s drinking habits.
The overall rate
of reported harms in the Irish workforce was double that in comparison to the
Australian findings for each of the measures used.
Dr. StephanieO’Keeffe, National Director for Health and Wellbeing with the HSE said the
report had been commissioned in response to a growing recognition of alcohol
related harm.
“Significant
public health and safety concerns are raised by the harm caused to other
individuals and to wider society – where we see that a quarter of the
population has experienced harm due to another’s drinking,” she said.
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