Increased alcohol consumption during the Covid-19 pandemic could lead to a “second health crisis”, researchers have warned.
Researchers at Portsmouth University believe an increase in alcohol consumption during lockdown may lead to long-term health problems for at-risk individuals. The University has launched a study to understand better how often people resort to alcohol during the lockdown to cope with stress, anxiety, and boredom.
“This period of isolation might lead to a spike in alcohol misuse and, potentially, development of addiction in at-risk individuals or relapse in recovered addicted patients, therefore placing further strain on drug and alcohol services, and the health service in general, during and after the pandemic,” says Dr Matt Park of the University of Portsmouth.
Dr Parker added: “How people cope with this is varied, but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence of people responding by drinking more alcohol worldwide.”
Those who volunteer for the anonymous survey are asked to report their weekly alcohol intake, stress and boredom levels and to record any changes.
James Clay, a PhD candidate administering the survey, said: “In the first week that the survey has been up and running, people have signed up from across the world, including the UK, USA, Australia, and mainland Europe. In time, we hope the results will help health providers and governments to prepare for, and potentially mitigate, a second health crisis that could result if many people are consuming more alcohol.”
In separate research carried out for the charity ‘Alcohol Change UK’ by polling company Opinium, almost one in five daily drinkers in the UK said they had increased the amount of alcohol they consume during the lockdown.
Meanwhile, one in three of the 2,000 individuals surveyed said they took measures to control or avoid drinking.
The warning from researchers coincides with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) reminder that “alcohol consumption can exacerbate health vulnerability, risk-taking behaviours, mental health issues and violence.”
WHO added: “WHO/Europe reminds people that drinking alcohol does not protect them from COVID-19, and encourages governments to enforce measures which limit alcohol consumption.”