Work

Examining how the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic affected alcohol use in different socio‐demographic groups in an Australian representative longitudinal sample

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Research examining how alcohol consumption changed across different socio-demographic groups during the pandemic has largely relied upon convenience samples recruited after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to measure whether the pandemic shifted alcohol consumption in different gender, age and income groups in Australia. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a longitudinal study using four waves (2017-20) of the annual Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey to compare pre-pandemic consumption (2017-19) with consumption in 2020. A total of 11 636 participants in Australia aged 15 years and older took part. MEASUREMENTS: Participants were asked annually about their alcohol consumption, demographics and income. FINDINGS: There was a statistically significant increase in alcohol consumption during the first year of the pandemic [incident rate ratio (IRR) = 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1, 1.1], largely driven by changes in drinking frequency. We found a significant difference in consumption change from pre-COVID-19 to during COVID-19 for participants aged under 55 years compared with those aged over 55 years. In addition, participants aged 15-34 reported less alcohol consumption during the pandemic than those aged 35 years and older. No significant differences were identified across gender and income groups. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption in Australia increased during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey participants aged 55 years and over seemed to be the least impacted by the public health measures introduced during the pandemic, such as the closure of licensed premises.

Source: Addiction

DOI: 10.1111/add.16651

Authors: Yvette Mojica‐Perez, Michael Livingston, Amy Pennay, Sarah Callinan

Institutions: La Trobe University, Curtin University, Karolinska Institutet, National Drug Research Institute

Language: English

Topic: Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,380