Pacific communities experience a disproportionate amount of alcohol-related harm compared to the general population. This is in part due to the prevalence of heavy drinking. This pattern of drinking among Pacific population groups often results in more alcohol-related harms, including (from here and here):
- Intentional injuries such as violence and self-harm
- Unintentional injuries resulting from accidents;
- Relationship problems;
- Problems at work;
- Neglect of family responsibilities;
- Embarrassment from indulging in unusual behaviours.
- Alcohol-related diseases or health-conditions at later stages in life.
For Pacific young people, almost one in four Pacific students reported experiencing alcohol-related harm. The most common reported alcohol-related problems were: doing things that could get them into trouble (29%), having unsafe sex (28%), having friends and family talk with them about cutting down on their alcohol use (26%), and getting an injury as a result of their alcohol use (25%) [46]. Alcohol use also influenced their performance at school (20%).