Epidemiological burden of alcohol harms to others (AHTO): A community-based cross-sectional analysis from southern part of India

Background: The common perception of alcohol consumption is that it is a problem that negatively impacts the social and health aspects of individual drinkers with little or no regard for harm to others. This study aimed to determine the burden and predictors of alcohol harms to others (AHTO). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among urban, rural, and slum residents of a southern Indian district, using a pretested questionnaire. The details regarding various harms experienced due to an alcohol user either at home or outside were collected. The data was collected and analyzed using Epi info mobile application with software version 7.0. Results: A total of 780 residents were interviewed in the study. Physical harms constituted the highest percentage of all reported harms (69.4%), followed by community problems (35.1%), financial losses (20.7%), and social inconveniences (18.5%), because of an alcohol user. Around 15% of parents reported that their children had to deal with abuse from an alcohol user at home or in the community and approximately 10% reported having to put in extra hours at work to make up for an intoxicated coworker. Households with alcohol consumption were found to have more harm than households without alcohol consumption (AOR, 5.4 vs. 1.0). Conclusion: The magnitude of AHTO is substantial and largely unacknowledged. It is evident from the study findings that AHTO is a major concern in society. All alcohol-related policies must recognize and prioritize AHTO to protect people from getting adversely affected by alcohol users.