Third of Americans binge drink during COVID pandemic, but lockdowns make problem worse
From social isolation to fears about job loss, the stresses of living in quarantine can have a devastating impact on millions of people during COVID-19. For drinkers, the problems of living in lockdown may be even worse. A new study finds harmful drinkers, or binge drinkers, consume more the longer they stay in COVID isolation.
The study of nearly 2,000 American adults is the first to reveal the connection between alcohol use and stress triggered by pandemic-related shutdowns. The results find binge drinkers consume an extra 19 percent for every week in lockdown. The odds of drinkers having more alcohol is more than twice as high among harmful drinkers compared to those who don’t drink to excess (60% vs 28%). This is especially true among drinkers with depression or a history of bingeing.
Overall, one in three Americans report binge drinking during the coronavirus pandemic. The average person...
