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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol and tobacco consumption: Evidence from Peru

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  • Sara, Raisa

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced dramatic adversities for public health around the world, especially in low and middle-income countries. While research has shown the pandemic to have direct effects on a variety of major economic and health crises, its impact on health-related behaviors is not clear. In this paper, I examine how exposure to the pandemic affects alcohol use and smoking in Peru, which experienced one of the highest COVID-related death rates albeit implementing one of the strictest lockdown policies in the world. I find that post pandemic consumption of alcohol and smoking in the last 30 days decreases by 41.3% and 44.1% respectively when compared to pre-pandemic rates. I also conclude that the intensity of engaging in these behaviors change such that the frequency of consuming alcohol in the last 30 days, binge drinking and the probability of smoking daily falls. While drinking behavior returns to pre-pandemic levels, the negative effect on smoking weakens but remains for almost two years preceding the pandemic.

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  • Sara, Raisa, 2023. "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol and tobacco consumption: Evidence from Peru," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:325:y:2023:i:c:s0277953623002472
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115890
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    1. Huang, Chen & Li, Cong & Liu, Feng & Wei, Sijie & Xu, Ruofei, 2025. "COVID-19 and health inequality: Evidence from risky behaviors," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 856-881.
    2. Sara, Raisa & Radoias, Vlad & Kim, Younoh, 2024. "Hypertension effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns: Evidence from a repeated cross-sectional survey in Peru," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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