A quarter of people in the UK reported drinking more than
usual during the first lockdown, particularly those who were
younger, female and suffering from anxiety, finds a study by UCL
researchers.
The study, published today in Drug and Alcohol Dependence,
surveyed over 30,000 adults about their drinking behaviour during
the earliest stage of lockdown between 21 March and 4 April 2020
and found that a third (34.3%) weren’t drinking.
Among people who drank, 48.1% reported drinking about the
same, 26.2% reported drinking more and 25.7% reported drinking
less than usual during the surveyed week.
The study shows that younger women with post-16 educational
qualifications and a household income over £30,000 were more
likely to report increased alcohol consumption.
Researchers also found that having an anxiety disorder,
being stressed about finances or about catching or becoming
seriously ill from COVID-19 were factors associated with
increased alcohol consumption.
Lead author, Dr Claire Garnett (UCL Institute of
Epidemiology and Health Care) said: “Despite women being more
likely than men to report drinking more than usual during
lockdown, heaviness of drinking is still positively associated
with being male, which was the case before lockdown.
“Women might be more likely to drink more than usual during
lockdown because they have been more negatively affected by the
pandemic through increased gender inequalities as women are more
likely to lose their jobs and carry the burdens of increased
childcare and housework.”
Having an anxiety disorder was associated with drinking
more than usual and the authors noted it is possible that people
with anxiety disorders are changing their drinking behaviour to
self-medicate or as an unhelpful coping mechanism during a period
of increased anxiety.
Drinking less than usual during the surveyed week was
independently associated with being younger, male, BAME, having a
household income lower than £30,000, having been diagnosed with
or suspected to have COVID-19, taking on COVID-19 related
protective behaviours, being stressed about becoming seriously
ill from COVID-19 and not being a key worker.
Co-author, Dr Melissa Oldham (UCL Institute of Epidemiology
and Health Care) said: “These findings show that one in four
drinkers have reported an increase in their consumption since
lockdown began, and that targeted approaches to provide support
for certain groups who are more likely to drink more is needed,
particularly with the start of this third lockdown.”
The team are now recruiting for a new study comparing
different online support tools to help people who want to cut
down on alcohol consumption, with an eligibility test live
at ideastrial.co.uk.
Further support for alcohol consumption can be found
at https://alcoholchange.org.uk/
The COVID-19 Social Study was funded by the Nuffield
Foundation. The study was also supported by the MARCH Mental
Health Network funded by the Cross-Disciplinary Mental Health
Network Plus initiative supported by UK Research and Innovation,
and by the Wellcome Trust.
Notes to Editors
If you are thinking about cutting down on your alcohol
consumption, you might be interested in a new study conducted by
UCL to compare different online support tools. Find out more and
see if you are eligible to take part here: ideastrial.co.uk.
If you are eligible, you will be recommended an online tool and
asked to respond to three short follow up surveys after 1, 3 and
6 months, and will receive £36 in vouchers for prompt completion
of all surveys.
For more information or to speak to the researchers
involved, please contact
Kate Corry, UCL Media Relations. T: +44 (0)20
3108 6995, E: k.corry@ucl.ac.uk
Claire Garnett, Sarah Jackson, Melissa Oldham, Jamie Brown,
Andrew Steptoe, Daisy Fancourt, ‘Factors associated with
drinking behaviour during COVID-19 social distancing and lockdown
among adults in the UK‘ will be published in Drug and
Alcohol Dependence on Thursday 14th January, 00:01 GMT /
19:01 Wednesday 13th January EST, and is under a strict embargo
until this time.
The DOI for this paper will be
10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108461
