Hygiena 2020, 65(1):10-16 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1730

Alcohol's harms to others

Elizabeth Nováková¹, Viktor Mravčík^1,2,3

¹ Univerzita Karlova, 1. lékařská fakulta, Klinika adiktologie a Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze, Praha, Česká republika

² Úřad vlády ČR, Národní monitorovací středisko pro drogy a závislosti, Praha, Česká republika

³ Národní ústav duševního zdraví, Klecany, Česká republika

Aims: Alcohol consumption affects not only its user but also his social environment. Consequences for the drinker are well mapped, but less attention is paid to the affected environment. Harm made to it is known as alcohol's harm(s) to others (AHTO). The AHTO approach includes a wide spectrum of harms at the individual level, in the family system, community and society. This is to provide an overview of the AHTO including typology, types of research and classification, AHTO makers, groups at higher risk and protective factors.

Methods: This thesis is a review. To meet the aims, a systematic research of bibliographic databases was made. Also other information sources such as annual reports, statistics, action plans, and strategy papers are included.

Results: There are many levels of harm from alcohol to others. Some of them are observable and measurable from the outside perspective, others highly subjective, depending on the perception and interpretation and also on the relationship between drinker and the harmed. The range of harm includes failing in some of the social roles, health and psychological harm, fear of staying in public space or decreased work productivity. At the macro level, there is a burden on systems due to alcohol attributable social costs. According to empirical studies, women and young people are at higher risk of dealing with AHTO.

Conclusions: AHTO is an important part of the overall social burden from alcohol use. This paper provides a comprehensive review which can be useful for future studying AHTO in the Czech Republic.

Keywords: alcohol consumption, alcohol's harms to others (AHTO), social expenses

Received: July 2019; Accepted: November 4, 2019; Published: February 29, 2020  Show citation