The impact of the COVID lockdown on alcohol consumption in the Netherlands

The lockdowns that have been introduced around the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have dramatically influenced health behaviours.

This research, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence explores the impact of lockdown on alcohol consumption levels in the Netherlands, whether there has been a difference for those who living alone compared with those who live with others, and how this relates to feelings of isolation.

The researchers examoined longitudinal data collected over thirteen waves of the COVID-19 questionairre.

Fidnings:

• Alcohol consumption during the pandemic was lower than in previous years, with levels being lower when lockdown measures were stricter. 
• Those living alone saw a relative increase in drinking throughout tight lockdown periods, whereas those living with children showed the strongest increase during the summer.
• Patterns of alcohol use differed in relation to feelings of social isolation with those living alone increasing their drinking earlier in the COVID-19 2021 winter compared to those sharing a household
• However, feeling socially isolated was associated with lower alcohol consumption in both summer periods, when most restrictions were lifted.

Suprisingly, those who felt most socially isolated reported drinking the least, suggesting that, in the context of this particular study, drinking is mainly recreational and related with social events rather than a coping mechanism against loneliness.

This longitudinal study shows that the Covid pandemic was linked with a period of time with an overall reduction in alcohol consumption levels in the the Netherlands. However, these findings differed when comparing different groups.