Shifts in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: early indications from Australia.
AUDIT
Alcohol
COVID-19
harmful drinking
risky drinking
stress
Journal
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
ISSN: 1360-0443
Titre abrégé: Addiction
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9304118
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
06 2021
06 2021
Historique:
revised:
27
08
2020
received:
21
05
2020
accepted:
27
09
2020
pubmed:
3
10
2020
medline:
8
6
2021
entrez:
2
10
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption is currently unclear. This study aimed to provide early estimates of how stress and demographics will interact with shifts in harmful alcohol consumption from before the COVID-19 outbreak to 2 months into social distancing. Cross-sectional convenience sample. Australia. A total of 1684 Australians aged 18-65 years who drink at least monthly. Items from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the stress subscale of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). Overall, harmful drinking decreased during social distancing measures in our sample [2019 score = 8.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.9-8.4; during the pandemic = 7.3, 95% CI = 7.1-7.6]. Younger drinkers, particularly young women, decreased their consumption the most, but there was a small increase in consumption in middle-aged women. Drinkers experiencing high levels of stress also reported a relatively higher shift in harmful consumption compared with those with low levels of stress (β = 0.65, P = 0.003), despite reporting a small decrease overall. The closure of licensed premises and social distancing measures in Australia in response to the COVID-19 outbreak appear to have reduced harmful alcohol consumption in younger drinkers, particularly young women.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND AND AIM
The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption is currently unclear. This study aimed to provide early estimates of how stress and demographics will interact with shifts in harmful alcohol consumption from before the COVID-19 outbreak to 2 months into social distancing.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional convenience sample.
SETTING
Australia.
PARTICIPANTS
A total of 1684 Australians aged 18-65 years who drink at least monthly.
MEASUREMENTS
Items from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the stress subscale of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS).
FINDINGS
Overall, harmful drinking decreased during social distancing measures in our sample [2019 score = 8.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.9-8.4; during the pandemic = 7.3, 95% CI = 7.1-7.6]. Younger drinkers, particularly young women, decreased their consumption the most, but there was a small increase in consumption in middle-aged women. Drinkers experiencing high levels of stress also reported a relatively higher shift in harmful consumption compared with those with low levels of stress (β = 0.65, P = 0.003), despite reporting a small decrease overall.
CONCLUSIONS
The closure of licensed premises and social distancing measures in Australia in response to the COVID-19 outbreak appear to have reduced harmful alcohol consumption in younger drinkers, particularly young women.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33006789
doi: 10.1111/add.15275
pmc: PMC7537267
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1381-1388Subventions
Organisme : Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
ID : DE180100016
Informations de copyright
© 2020 Society for the Study of Addiction.
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