Altered alcohol consumption during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

Background: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2019, many countries around the world have imposed lockdown measures in order to reduce virus spread. Social isolation is known to have a significant psychological impact, potentially triggering alcohol misuse in adults. In our study, we aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 lockdown measures on alcohol consumption in adults in Bavaria. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 2067 participants, with 1961 young adults (mean age 23.3 +/- 4.1) and 106 mature adults (mean age 66.7 +/- 9.7). Participants were asked to complete a standardized questionnaire, semi-quantitatively evaluating the alcohol drinking behaviour before and during the pandemic lockdown. Results: After implementation of lockdown, the alteration of alcohol consumption was significantly different between young and mature adults (p < 0.001). Among young adults, 42% reported unchanged drinking behaviour compared to 76% in the mature adult group; 44% of young adults reported to drink less compared to only 7% of mature adults. An increase in alcohol consumption was only reported by 14% of young adults and 17% of mature adults. Interestingly, in the entire cohort, the change of alcohol intake was most pronounced among moderate drinkers (> 0 to < 5 drinks/week) in both age groups (p < 0.001). Ordinal logistic regression revealed female sex, low BMI and younger age to be associated with a decrease in number of self-reported drinks/week. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown significantly affected alcohol drinking behaviour. Further studies exploring long-term effects on potential alcohol misuse and the relevance on public health are warranted.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 lockdown measures have significantly impacted alcohol consumption behaviors in adults, showing noticeable differences between young and mature adults. Moderate drinkers in both age groups experienced the most pronounced changes in alcohol intake. Female sex, low BMI, and younger age were associated with a decrease in self-reported drinks per week. Further research is needed to explore potential long-term effects of alcohol misuse and its impact on public health.