One-in-four Irish people have been harmed by someone else's drinking. The 'Alcohol's Harm to Others in Ireland' report published by the Health Service Executive (HSE) today found that women (one in six) are more likely to experience family problems, while men (one in nine) are more likely to report assaults.
While 1-in-10 parents reported that children came into harms way at least once in the past 12 months as a result of someone else's drinking.
More young men experienced harms as a result of others drinking, with assaults the highest reported harm by that group.
The range of negative consequences reported included avoidance of drunk people, felt unsafe in public places or using public transport, trouble at a licensed venue, been kept awake at night, verbal abuse, arguments and being threatened.
The survey found that much of this anti-social behaviour and crime experienced due to others drinking was not reported to the gardai.
The report says harm from others was experienced more frequently among men and younger people. At a most serious level, 1-in-11 said they or a family member has been assaulted by someone under the influence of alcohol, with the highest rate among young people.
Respondents say just half of all alcohol-related assaults were reported to the gardai.
In both the general and college populations, the factors most associated with alcohol-related violence were regular risky drinking, being a male and younger in age.
In the general population, younger women were more likely to be victims of assaults in comparison to their female student counterparts - while the rate of assaults among young men and male students were similar.
While the role of alcohol in sexual assault cases showed that alcohol consumption, in particular drinking to intoxication, was a feature in a high proportion of rapes committed in Ireland - both among perpetrators and victims.
Strong links have also been reported between domestic violence and alcohol consumption. A national study on domestic violence reported that one-quarter of domestic abuse cases in Ireland always involved alcohol.
Dr. Anne Hope authored the report, and says many are also impacted by the heavy drinking of colleagues.
