While the increase in alcohol consumption during the start of the spread of COVID-19 shouldn’t be overstated, there were increases for those who already frequently drink and those who are experiencing psychological distress.
More females than males (23% females – 18% males) say their alcohol consumption had increased since the spread of COVID-19.
More than a quarter of those whose alcohol consumption went up increased by 3-4 standard drinks a week.
The most common reasons for drinking more for both men and women was spending more time at home (males 67%, females 64%).
For females whose main role was caring for children or others, 28% reported an increase in alcohol consumption.
More women reported their drinking had increased than men (23 per cent to 18 per cent) while a similar number of both females and males say their alcohol consumption had fallen. Many more men who are relatively frequent drinkers - that is three to four standard drinks a week - reported they had increased their consumption than men who drank less frequently - one to two standard drinks a week - prior to COVID-19 (22 per cent of frequent drinkers increased alcohol consumption to 8 per cent of less frequent drinkers).
For females, the pattern was the same, that is higher increased alcohol consumption for more frequent drinkers (29 per cent ) although a greater proportion of less frequent drinkers increased their consumption (15 per cent).
Most of those who say their alcohol consumption went up say it went up by one to two standard drinks a week (46 per cent) while a little more than half that number (28 per cent) drank an extra three to four standard drinks a week.
The most common reason given by both women and men for drinking more was because they were spending more time at home. For men, the next most common response was that they were bored and had nothing else to do, while for women the next most common reason was increased stress.
The changes in caring responsibilities during COVID-19 affected men and women quite differently. Females reporting their men role was caring (doing housework, looking after children or others) rose from 19 per cent to 21 per cent from February to April with a slight fall to 20 per cent in May. For men the numbers were smaller although the pattern was the same - up from 4 per cent in February to 6 per cent in April then down very slightly in May.
Not only higher rates of caring for females, it appears to have a much stronger association with changes in alcohol consumption. 28 per cent of females whose main role was caring increased their alcohol consumption. For those whose main role wasn’t caring, fewer - 21 per cent - reported increased drinking. For males the difference was less clear- 21 per cent of males whose main role was caring increased drinking compared to 18 per cent of those who didn’t have caring as their main role.
Changes in hours worked also appears to have a strong association with increased alcohol consumption but in different ways for males and females.
Males employed in February and April whose hours stayed the same or increased drank more by around 16 per cent. For those who weren't employed in either month the increase was 10 per cent. But for those whose hours declined or who stopped working, the increases in alcohol consumption were larger with a 27 per cent rise in consumption.
For females, the biggest increases in alcohol consumption were for those who were employed in both periods with their hours either staying the same or declining (31 per cent in each case). The lowest increases in consumption were for those not employ in either month and those whose hours increased.
There was a very strong association between psychological distress in April 2020 and self reported changes in alcohol consumption. For both males and females an increase from moderate to serious psychological distress is associated with an increased probability of reporting an increase in alcohol consumption.
Males with very bad self reported health in February were far more likely to report their alcohol consumption had increased. Females with a degree were more likely to report an increase and males who lived in relatively disadvantaged areas were less likely to report an increase than those in more advantaged areas.
Having a child caring role was strong predictor of an increase in alcohol consumption for females. For males, on the other hand, it was a loss of job or a decline in hours worked which appears to be the strongest predictor of a (self-reported) increase in alcohol consumption. It is important not to overstate the increases in alcohol consumption which were moderate, and the vast majority say their alcohol consumption stayed the same or declined.
Nonetheless, there are increases for particular demographic groups, increases amongst those who were already relatively frequent consumers of alcohol, and particularly troubling increases for those who are experiencing psychological distress.