Difference in alcohol consumption in central and eastern Slovakia during a coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused several negative changes. Increased alcohol consumption has been reported in some studies. This study aimed to compare the level of alcohol consumption among college students in the central and eastern regions of Slovakia. This cross-sectional study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three Slovak universities were included in the study. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to determine alcohol consumption. The total number of college students was 3,647. The overall AUDIT score was significantly higher in the eastern region (p 0.05). During a typical drinking day, more alcohol was consumed in the eastern region compared to the central region of Slovakia in men (p < 0.028). Excess drinking by men has been reported in the eastern region compared to the central region (p 0.05). Inability to remember what happened on a night of drinking was a significant difference in eastern men (p = 0.047). Alcohol consumption is a significant problem in Slovakia. The number of students with a high AUDIT score from the eastern region is higher than the number of students with a high AUDIT score from the central region. More significant differences were found between men compared to women from eastern and central Slovakia (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 34). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: alcohol consumption, AUDIT, pandemic, COVID-19, Slovakia.