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. 2023 Nov;84(6):842-851.
doi: 10.15288/jsad.22-00408. Epub 2023 Jul 11.

Beverage- and Context-Specific Alcohol Consumption During COVID-19 in the United States: The Role of Alcohol To-Go and Delivery Purchases

Pamela J Trangenstein  1 , Thomas K Greenfield  1 , Katherine J Karriker-Jaffe  2 , William C Kerr  1
Affiliations

Beverage- and Context-Specific Alcohol Consumption During COVID-19 in the United States: The Role of Alcohol To-Go and Delivery Purchases

Pamela J Trangenstein et al. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: Alcohol delivery and to-go sales may contribute to changes in drinking patterns, including where and what people drink. This study tested whether home delivery and to-go alcohol purchases were associated with context- and beverage-specific consumption volumes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic after adjusting for pre-pandemic consumption volumes.

Method: Data from a pre-pandemic panel were compared to a during-pandemic panel of the National Alcohol Survey (n = 1,150 adult drinkers, 52.7% female). Outcomes were past-year alcohol consumption volumes in standard drinks (overall, by beverage type, and by location). Independent variables included past-year alcohol delivery and to-go purchases (separately). Covariates comprised baseline beverage- or context-specific volume, demographics, COVID-19 impacts, and drinking motivations. Negative binomial regression tested associations between alcohol purchases and change in overall, beverage-, and context-specific consumption.

Results: On average, respondents who had alcohol delivered (vs. not) reported consuming larger volumes overall (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.58, 95% CI [1.07, 2.32], p = .02), of wine (IRR = 2.90, 95% CI [1.50, 5.63], p < .04), of spirits (IRR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.03, 2.44], p = .04), and at home (IRR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.10, 2.31], p = .01). People who bought alcohol to go (vs. not) reported larger volumes of wine (IRR = 1.41, 95% CI [1.02, 1.96], p = .04), at home (IRR = 1.60, 95% CI [1.10, 2.32], p = .01), and in bars (IRR = 4.55, 95% CI [2.55, 8.11], p < .001). Finally, people who had alcohol delivered reported drinking smaller volumes in bars (IRR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.24, 0.98], p = .04).

Conclusions: During the first year of the pandemic, adults who had alcohol delivered or bought it to go reported larger volumes for several locations and beverage types.

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Conflict of interest statement

Drs. Kerr and Greenfield have received funding and travel support from the National Alcoholic Beverage Control Association (NABCA); Dr. Trangenstein received research funding from NABCA. Dr. Kerr has been paid as an expert witness regarding cases on alcohol policy issues retained by the Attorney General's Offices of the U.S. states of Indiana and Illinois under arrangements where half of the cost was paid by organizations representing wine and spirits distributors in those states. Dr. Greenfield serves on the Board of Directors for Alcohol Justice.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Types of alcoholic beverages ordered via delivery
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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