Alcohol's harm to others: self-reports from a representative sample of New Zealanders

There is a lack of research, internationally and in New Zealand, on the harms experienced as a result of drinking by others. Such effects have often been neglected in policy development and in estimates of the economic burden associated with alcohol consumption. This study describes the broad range of harms reported by New Zealanders due to the drinking of someone else.

A representative national survey was conducted using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing with New Zealanders aged 12 to 80 years (N=3068) in 2008/2009 (response rate - 64%). Harms experienced due to the drinking of others were reported along with demographic variables.

One in four respondents indicated that they had at least one heavy drinker in their life. Most of these respondents indicated they had experienced a range of harms because of this person's drinking. Further, 17% of respondents with children reported that their children experienced harm because of the drinking of someone else. Seventy-one percent of those sampled reported experiencing at least one harm because of the drinking of a stranger.

A large proportion of New Zealanders report the experience of physical, social, economic, and psychological harms because of the drinking of others. These harms should be considered in the discussion of alcohol policy.