Financial burden of alcohol consumption and household expenses among adult males in Colombo District: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Alcohol consumption has created a significant economic burden globally, also in developing countries like Sri Lanka. In Colombo District, increased household spending on alcohol compromises essential needs such as food, healthcare and education. Understanding the financial impact of alcohol use is timely to plan out targeted public health policies and economic interventions. 
Objectives: To describe the financial impact of alcohol use on household expenses among adult males in Colombo District 
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June 2019 to June 2020 among 1,106 Sinhala-speaking adult males in the Colombo District. The study objective was to assess the financial burden of alcohol consumption and household expenses among adult males in Colombo district. A two-stage cluster sampling method selected 58 clusters from Grama Niladhari divisions. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered, validated questionnaire. Alcohol consumption patterns and monthly household expenditures on alcohol and other goods were compared across low-, middle- and high-income groups. The Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to assess differences in spending behaviour between current, non-current and lifetime abstainers of alcohol. 
Results: Out of 1106 participants, 29.3% were current drinkers. Among low- and middle-income groups, current drinkers had spent significantly lower money on food, household items, and medical care compared to lifetime abstainers (p<0.05). Current drinkers consistently spent more on alcohol than occasional users (p<0.001), which contributed to household financial strain. In contrast, alcohol spending had no significant impact on high-income households. Expenditure on education and transport remained stable across all groups. The results highlight alcohol’s disproportionate financial burden on poorer households that aggravate economic vulnerability and reducing access to basic needs and health services. 
Conclusions & Recommendations: Alcohol consumption strains household budgets in low- and middle-income groups, worsening poverty. Awareness campaigns must target vulnerable communities to promote financial and health literacy. Policy reform is essential to mitigate alcohol-related harm, reduce economic disparities, and protect long-term family and national well-being.