Characteristics associated with buying alcohol to-go and for delivery during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among a national sample of US adults

Abstract

Introduction: This study: (i) determined the population coverage of alcohol delivery and to-go/carryout policies (i.e., policies permitting bars/restaurants to sell individual drinks for off-site consumption) in 2019 and 2020; and (ii) identified characteristics associated with alcohol delivery and to-go purchases.

Methods: Data are from the National Alcohol Survey and Alcohol Policy Information System (n = 1677 adults, 52.1% female). Population coverage models summed state populations across state-level bar/restaurant delivery and to-go/carryout policies by beverage. Regression outcomes were past-year alcohol delivery and to-go purchases. Independent variables included demographics, excessive drinking, COVID-19 impacts and state COVID-19 bar/restaurant alcohol laws. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression models tested associations between delivery/to-go purchases and independent variables.

Results: Overall, 7.5% of adults had alcohol delivered and 14.5% bought alcohol to-go. From December 2019 to December 2020, the number of people living in states allowing beer/wine/spirits delivery (284%) and to-go sales (627%) rose steeply. People who were Black (vs. White; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.92, p < 0.001), excessive drinkers (vs. non-excessive drinkers; aOR 2.06, p < 0.001) or lived in states allowing beer/wine/spirits to-go sales (aOR 2.20, p = 0.01) had higher odds of buying alcohol to-go. Conversely, older people had lower odds of buying alcohol to-go (aOR 0.97, p < 0.001). People with some college or more (vs. high school degree or less, aOR 2.21, p < 0.001) and a higher economic burden (vs. fewer COVID-19 impacts, aOR 2.32, p = 0.05) had higher odds of alcohol delivery.

Discussion and conclusions: A select sub-population defined by socioeconomic status, race, excessive drinking and state policies bought alcohol for delivery or to-go in the Unites States.

Keywords: COVID-19; alcohol; alcohol policy; home delivery; to-go sales.

Figure 1.. State-level alcohol carryout/to-go and delivery policies by beverage type, December 1, 2019 and December 1, 2020

These maps show the state policy conditions for bar/restaurant carryout/to-go sales (left) and bar/restaurant delivery (right) as of December 1, 2019 (top row) and December 1, 2020 (bottom row). The shading indicates each state’s level of restrictiveness for a particular sales method, with white denoting it is not permitted, grey meaning it is only allowed for beer/wine, and black signifying it is allowed for beer/wine/spirits. For carryout/to-go sales and bar/restaurant delivery there are more black states in December 2020 than one year earlier.