homehome Home chatchat Notifications


Every week of lockdown makes binge drinking more likely

The pandemic can affect our mental health and alter our behavior

Fermin Koop
December 7, 2020 @ 5:15 pm

share Share

Being stuck at home due to the coronavirus pandemic can affect our mental health and behavior in more ways than we imagine. As many around the world can attest, it can even make us more likely to drink more alcohol. A new study has just confirmed that idea.

Image credit: Flickr / Diann Bayes

In response to the outbreak, local and state governments across the US mandated temporary shelter-in-place and business shutdown policies as an attempt to control and reduce the spread of the virus. As a result, many experienced a sudden loss of salary, unemployment, and physical isolation — all of which can take a serious toll on our minds.

As of late June, 40% of US adults reported struggling with mental health problems, including substance use, previous studies have shown. However, limited research has evaluated the impact of specific COVID-19-related stressors on alcohol consumption, and specifically, binge drinking.

Binge drinking is a common but preventable alcohol use behavior defined as having 5+ drinks for men or 4+ drinks for women, in a span of only two hours. It’s a practice commonly associated with increased stress levels and has been shown to be detrimental to mental health. Researchers from the University of Texas surveyed nearly 2,000 people over 18 years old across the US, to analyze the interplay between the binge drinking and the lockdown.

They collected data on sociodemographics, alcohol consumption, and COVID-19-related stressors using a web-based, self-report survey. Then, they used a multivariable logistic and multinomial regression model to establish the link between alcohol consumption and pandemic’s stressors.

The findings showed that 34% of the sample reported binge drinking during the pandemic. More binge drinkers increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic (60%) than non-binge drinkers (28%). For every week spent at home during the pandemic, there were 1.21 greater odds of binge drinking.

Binge drinkers had, on average, four drinks per occasion, compared to just two drinks for the non-binge drinkers. Those surveyed who drank at harmful levels during the pandemic would consume seven drinks maximum on one occasion, compared to a maximum of two per session during the pandemic for those who did not.

Underlying mental problems also seemed to play a role in people’s behavior. People with a previous diagnosis of depression and current depression symptoms had greater odds of increased alcohol consumption compared to those reporting no depression. Meanwhile, living with children was associated with lower odds of binge drinking during the pandemic, according to the study.

While the findings are significant, the researchers note a few limitations of their study. Over 70% of respondents reported an annual income of greater than $80,000, which potentially indicates more disposable income. This relatively high income could skew the data, though it’s not entirely clear which way.

At the same time, the findings may also differ as time progressed. For example, individuals may have adapted to the “new normal” and maintained pre-pandemic alcohol consumption behaviors. On the other hand, others may feel more strained due to the length of the lockdown and increase their dependence on alcohol.

At any rate, the study goes to show that the ramifications of both the pandemic and the lockdown orders can have on our mental state. Further studies are needed on strategies to prevent and intervene in binge drinking behaviors while people are in isolation, especially considering the potential of a longer lockdown as the pandemic continues, the researchers argued. That’s currently the case in many parts of the world, with cases on the rise amid a massive second wave.

The study was published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

share Share

A Brain Implant Just Turned a Woman’s Thoughts Into Speech in Near Real Time

This tech restores speech in real time for people who can’t talk, using only brain signals.

Using screens in bed increases insomnia risk by 59% — but social media isn’t the worst offender

Forget blue light, the real reason screens disrupt sleep may be simpler than experts thought.

Beetles Conquered Earth by Evolving a Tiny Chemical Factory

There are around 66,000 species of rove beetles and one researcher proposes it's because of one special gland.

We Should Start Worrying About Space Piracy. Here's Why This Could be A Big Deal

“We are arguing that it’s already started," say experts.

An Experimental Drug Just Slashed Genetic Heart Risk by 94%

One in 10 people carry this genetic heart risk. There's never been a treatment — until now.

We’re Getting Very Close to a Birth Control Pill for Men

Scientists may have just cracked the code for male birth control.

A New Antibiotic Was Hiding in Backyard Dirt and It Might Save Millions

A new antibiotic works when others fail.

Researchers Wake Up Algae That Went Dormant Before the First Pyramids

Scientists have revived 7,000-year-old algae from Baltic Sea sediments, pushing the limits of resurrection ecology.

A Fossil So Strange Scientists Think It’s From a Completely New Form of Life

This towering mystery fossil baffled scientists for 180 Years and it just got weirder.

ChatGPT Seems To Be Shifting to the Right. What Does That Even Mean?

ChatGPT doesn't have any political agenda but some unknown factor is causing a subtle shift in its responses.