Collateral damage from alcohol abuse: the enormous costs to Australia

The costs of alcohol abuse to innocent bystanders in Australia have not received a lot of attention but alcohol abuse cost Australia $4.5 billion in 1992. Collateral damage includes damage to fetuses from mothers who abuse alcohol, damage to innocents and property when people drive drunk and damage from the impaired judgment of doctors using alcohol. Much of this damage could be prevented by stricter liquor laws and law enforcement, taxation by alcohol content and other public policy initiatives.