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. 2021 Sep 14;7(5):e167.
doi: 10.1192/bjo.2021.986. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on alcohol consumption behaviours

Emily O C Palmer  1 , William Trender  2 , Robin J Tyacke  1 , Adam Hampshire  2 , Anne Lingford-Hughes  1
Affiliations

Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on alcohol consumption behaviours

Emily O C Palmer et al. BJPsych Open. .

Abstract

Background: We aimed to evaluate how coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions had altered individual's drinking behaviours, including consumption, hangover experiences, and motivations to drink, and changing levels of depression and anxiety.

Method: We conducted an online cross-sectional self-report survey. Whole group analysis compared pre- versus post-COVID restrictions. A correlation coefficient matrix evaluated the associations between all outcome scores. Self-report data was compared with Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores from the 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Multiple linear modelling (MLM) was calculated to identify factors associated with increasing AUDIT scores and post-restriction AUDIT scores.

Results: In total, 346 individuals completed the survey, of which 336 reported drinking and were therefore analysed. After COVID-19 restrictions 23.2% of respondents reported an increased AUDIT score, and 60.1% a decreased score. AUDIT score change was positively correlated with change in depression (P < 0.01, r = 0.15), anxiety (P < 0.01, r = 0.15) and drinking to cope scores (P < 0.0001, r = 0.35). MLM revealed that higher AUDIT scores were associated with age, mental illness, lack of a garden, self-employed or furloughed individuals, a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and smoking status.

Conclusions: COVID-19 restrictions decreased alcohol consumption for the majority of individuals in this study. However, a small proportion increased their consumption; this related to drinking to cope and increased depression and anxiety.

Keywords: Alcohol disorders; cognitive neuroscience; drugs of dependence disorders; epidemiology; psychosocial interventions.

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Conflict of interest statement

R.J.T. works as a consultant for Alcarelle Ltd. This research was conducted as part of a postgraduate course funded by an unrestricted grant from Alcarelle Ltd to Imperial College London, this is supervised by A.L.-H. A.L.-H. has received funds to support research from Lundbeck and GSK, and for chairing/presenting Lundbeck. There are no other conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Correlation of change in (a) anxiety, (b) depression and (c) motivation to drink to cope with change in scores of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) given the impact on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions. Current (during the pandemic, post-COVID restriction implementation) self-report scores for (d) anxiety, (e) depression and (f) motivation to drink to cope correlated with current AUDIT scores. Correlation analysis used Spearman's rank correlations. GAD, Generalized anxiety disorder; PHQ, Patient Health Questionnaire, DMQ, Drinking Motives Questionnaire.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Impact of cohort factors on pre- (black), post- (grey) and change (white) in scores of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) since the implementation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions. Data collected from 336 survey participants. Data shown as mean (s.d.).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) (a) and drinking to cope (b) scores between individuals who increased or decreased alcohol consumption since implementation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions. For each group (increased versus decreased) self-report scores are shown pre-COVID-19 (black) and post-COVID-19 (grey) restrictions. Data presented is mean (s.d.) of 336 survey participants. *Significant at P < 0.05; ns, non-significance.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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