Who harms whom with their drinking? - Results from the Danish national alcohol and drug survey

Little is known about alcohol's harms to others internationally as well as in the Danish general population. This paper presents data on survey respondents' reports of being negatively affected by others' drinking. Analyses were based on the 2011 Danish national alcohol and drug survey (n=2569). Mixed mode administration was used (internet and telephone). Response rate was 64%. The sample consisted of 47% men and 53% women (unweighted). Respondents' ages were 15 to 79 years. Respondents were asked if they had known anyone with excessive alcohol use, whether this affected them negatively and if so, who the person was (household family member, relative, friend/neighbour, ex-partner, and supervisor/co-worker). Prevalences and chi-square statistics were used to present data. Logistic regression was employed to investigate correlates of alcohol harm. 43% of respondents reported that they knew someone with excessive alcohol consumption in the last 12 months. Of these 40% reported that this person's drinking had affected them negatively. More women reported being affected negatively by someone's excessive drinking. Also women were affected by a household member's drinking as well as by relatives. More men reported being affected by a friend's or neighbor's drinking as well as by the drinking of a co-worker or boss. Age is not related to being exposed to the negative effects of a heavy drinker. A substantial proportion of the Danish population has known someone in their environment who drinks excessively. More research into the types and extent of third party harm ol should be conducted in the future.