International Women’s Day 2026

In Sri Lanka, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use causes significant economic, health and social issues with complex consequences that are felt at every social level. Have alcohol users made you feel unsafe in public places? 70.6% Yes 5.5% No 23.7% A 77% majority of respondents have felt unsafe mostly in public transport such as buses and trains, with a considerable proportion of women feeling unsafe in the streets (43.7%), bus & train stations (43%), and common outdoor public spaces such as parks (26.6%). 13.4% of women have also felt unsafe while using public taxi services. The detrimental effects of others’ alcohol use specifically impacts women in numerous ways. The discomfort, insecurity, and harassment that women experience in public places and on public transport due to others’ alcohol use is a growing concern that demands urgent attention. Alcohol is often used as an excuse for violence and harassment, allowing users to escape accountability in the guise of alcohol use. The absence of an effective framework to address this issue has created an environment in which many women are incapable of and reluctant to speak out. With the aim of identifying and exposing the impacts of others’ alcohol use on women’s perception of safety in public places, the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) conducted a survey in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026. The survey was conducted with data collected from 1157 women over 15 years from all 25 districts in Sri Lanka. The goal was to generate evidence to highlight the gravity of issues women experience in public spaces due to others’ alcohol use and support the development of effective interventions to ensure the safety of women in such environments.