One in 11 people report they or a member of their family has been assaulted over the past year by someone under the influence of alcohol – with half saying they have not reported the assault to the Garda. Meanwhile 50 % of people stated they had experienced some form of alcohol-related intimidation, threat or violence in the past year.
Alcohol Action Ireland commissioned leading market research company Behaviour and Attitudes to survey people on their experiences of alcohol-related harm in the community. The findings were presented at the Alcohol – Where’s the harm? conference which was opened by Minister of State for Health Minister Roisin Shortall and addressed by Dr Ann Hope, economist Sean Byrne, Superintendent Colette Quinn, head of the Garda Youth Diversion Project, representatives from the Department of Justice Northern Ireland, Sandra Coughlan of HSE South, Cliona Saidlear of the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, Sharon O’Halloran of Safe Ireland, Thomas Bibby of Move – Men Overcoming Violence and Christine Toft, consultant and trainer with Alcohol Concern’s Embrace project.
All presentations are available at:
Just under half, 45% of people said they had gone out of their way to avoid drunk people or places where people drinking were known to hang out. Almost one in five said they felt unsafe while waiting for or using public transport because of someone else’s drinking while 22% said they felt unsafe in any other public place because of someone else’s drinking.
One in eight reported being verbally abused because of someone else’s drinking while another one in eight said they had been involved in a serious argument because of someone else’s drinking. The findings raise serious questions about the apparent high levels of tolerance of alcohol-related harm exhibited on an individual, community and society level.
The research is similar to that carried out by Professor Robin Room and AER in Australia into people’s experience of alcohol-related harm and crime.
The findings were presented at the Alcohol – Where’s the Harm? conference which was opened by Minister of State for Health Roisin Shortall. The hidden face of alcohol-related crime was also discussed at the conference.
Alcohol Action Ireland Director Fiona Ryan said: “Of equal or even more concern due to its “hidden” nature, is the harm that goes on behind closed doors – and that is why the conversation around alcohol and crime needs to focus on not only what happen on the streets but what goes on behind closed doors – alcohol-related sexual and domestic violence.”
She praised the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, Safe Ireland and Move – men overcoming violence, for presenting at the conference saying: “Alcohol does not cause sexual or domestic violence but alcohol can have a facilitative role and we shouldn’t be afraid because of the complexities involved in the issues to name that and explore what it means for the individual, families and communities. These organizations are to be congratulated on naming and engaging with this hidden issue.”
Key Findings
- One in 11 (9%) said they or a member of their family had been assaulted over the past year by someone under the influence of alcohol; while half said they had not reported the assault to the Gardai
- 45% said they had gone out of their way to avoid drunk people or places where drinkers are known to hang out
- 22% said they felt unsafe in any other public place because of someone else’s drinking
- 21% said they had been kept awake at night or disturbed because of someone else’s drinking
- 18% said they had experienced trouble or noise because of drinkers at a licensed venue
- 18% said they felt unsafe while waiting for or using public transport because of someone else’s drinking
- 12% said they had been verbally abused because of someone else’s drinking
- 12% said they had been involved in a serious argument because of someone else’s drinking
- 8% said they had been threatened because of someone else’s drinking
- 1% said they had been involved in a traffic accident because of someone else’s drinking
