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A longitudinal study of alcohol consumption among adults in Victoria, Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Tianhui Ke
  • Michael Livingston
  • Yanqin Zhang
  • Damian Pavlyshyn
  • Aimée Altermatt
  • Alexander Thomas
  • Thi Nguyen
  • Shelley Walker
  • Sophie Hill
  • Alison Coelho
  • Alisa Pedrana
  • Mark Stoové
  • Margaret Hellard
  • Katherine B Gibney
  • Anna L Wilkinson

Abstract

Objectives: Whilst public health measures were effective in reducing COVID-19 transmission, unintended negative consequences may have occurred. This study aims to assess changes alcohol consumption and the heavy episodic drinking (HED) during the pandemic. Methods: Data were from the Optimise Study, a longitudinal cohort of Australian adults September 2020–August 2022 that over-sampled priority populations at higher risk of contracting COVID-19, developing severe COVID-19 or experiencing adverse consequences of lockdowns. Frequency of alcohol consumption (mean number of days per week) and past-week HED were self-reported. Generalised linear models estimated the association between time and (1) the frequency of alcohol consumption and (2) heavy episodic drinking. Results: Data from 688 participants (mean age: 44.7 years, SD:17.0; 72.7% female) and 10,957 surveys were included. Mean days of alcohol consumption per week decreased from 1.92 (SD: 1.92) in 2020 to 1.54 (SD:1.94) in 2022. The proportion of participants reporting HED decreased from 25.4% in 2020 to 13.1% in 2022. During two lockdown periods, known as “lockdown five”, (OR:0.65, 95%CI [0.47,0.90]) and “lockdown six” (OR:0.76, 95%CI [0.67,0.87]), participants were less likely to report HED. Conclusions: Participants alcohol drinking frequency and HED decreased during the pandemic. This study provides a strong description of alcohol consumption during the pandemic and suggests that lockdowns did not have the unintended consequences of increased alcohol consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Tianhui Ke & Michael Livingston & Yanqin Zhang & Damian Pavlyshyn & Aimée Altermatt & Alexander Thomas & Thi Nguyen & Shelley Walker & Sophie Hill & Alison Coelho & Alisa Pedrana & Mark Stoové & Marga, 2024. "A longitudinal study of alcohol consumption among adults in Victoria, Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(12), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0313599
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0313599
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ioana Popovici & Michael T. French, 2013. "Does Unemployment Lead to Greater Alcohol Consumption?," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 444-466, April.
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