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Aim To explore the nature and magnitude of alcohol's harms to others (AHTOs), and associations with mental well-being. Methods Cross-sectional survey implemented amongst 891 randomly selected Welsh residents (aged 18+ years), via computer assisted telephone interviews. Questions established past 12-month experience of nine direct harms resulting from another person's alcohol consumption (e.g. violence) and five linked outcomes (e.g. concern for a child). The source (e.g. partner/stranger) and frequency of the AHTO were collected, and respondents' socio-demographics, drinking behaviours and mental well-being status. Results During the past 12 months, 43.5% of respondents had experienced at least one direct harm (45.5% at least one direct harm/linked outcome). In demographically adjusted analyses, the odds of experiencing any direct harm decreased sequentially as age group increased (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AORs]: 1.9 [age 65–74 years] - 4.2 [age 18–34 years]), and was higher amongst binge drinkers (AOR, 1.5, p < 0.05). Associations between age group and suffering the direct harms anxiety, disrupted sleep, feeling threatened, property damage and emotional neglect were found. Experience of feeling threatened was lower amongst females (AOR 0.6, p < 0.05). In demographically adjusted analyses, low mental well-being was higher amongst those who had suffered alcohol-related financial issues (AOR 2.2, p < 0.001), emotional neglect (AOR 2.3, p < 0.01) and property damage (AOR 2.2, p < 0.05). Conclusion AHTOs place a large, although unequal burden on adults in Wales. Individuals' drinking patterns are associated with experience of AHTOs. Critically, experience of some harms is associated with low mental well-being.

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BackgroundInternationally, there is growing recognition of the harms that an individual’s alcohol consumption can cause to those around them (i.e. alcohol’s harms to others). In the United Kingdom, whilst there is some evidence of alcohol’s harms to others, further understanding is required to inform policy and practice that aims to address and prevent the wide breathe of alcohol-related harms.ObjectiveTo explore the nature, extent and frequency of alcohol’s harms to others in Wales.MethodsA cross-sectional telephone survey with 1 071 adults (aged 18+ years) resident in Wales. The survey exploring 18 categories of harm.Findings59.7% of adults had experienced at least one harm from someone else’s drinking in the last 12 months (equivalent to 1,460,151 adults). The most common harms experienced included feeling anxious at a social occasion (29.2%); being kept awake due to noise/disruption (29.0%); having a serious argument (20.3%); being let down (19.2%); feeling threatened (17.7%); and suffering emotional neglect (17.3%). Of those experiencing any harm in the last 12 months, 16.9% reported doing so on at least a weekly basis. Most often, those causing the harm were known to those experiencing the harm (20.3% were friends; 19.9% were family members outside the household; 19% were cohabiting partners). The risk of experiencing any harm in the past 12 months was higher in younger age groups. The risks of experiencing individual harms also varied by socio-demographic factors.Conclusion and policy implicationsThis study provides an initial overview of experience of alcohol’s harms to others amongst adults in Wales. Including alcohol’s harms to others in assessments of the burden of alcohol is crucial to understanding its broad impact, and ensuring that policies, regulations and interventions seek to prevent the harmful effects of alcohol to both the drinker and those who may be affected by their drinking.

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