Key Takeaways
According to a recent study published inJAMA Network Open, as the COVID-19 pandemic surges, more people may be turning to alcohol to cope with unprecedented uncertainty and stress.
Light to moderate alcohol consumption is considered acceptable for healthy adults. However, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to short and long-term health effects. These effects can include injuries from incidents like car accidents, high blood pressure, and liver disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines excessive alcohol consumption as:For women:Four more drinks during a single occasion or eight or more drinks per weekFor men:Five or more drinks during a single occasion or 15 or more drinks per week
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines excessive alcohol consumption as:
“Alcohol can be consumed as a strategy to manage emotional stress,“Claire Nicogossian, Psy.D, a clinical psychologist based in Rhode Island, tells Verywell. “Specifically, the pandemic has created a collective grief and loss of safety and security with incredible uncertainty.”
What This Means For YouSometimes, it’s not easy to know whether you or a loved one excessively consumes alcohol. Many drinks, such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits, vary in their alcohol content. It’s good to know the alcohol content in a beverage so you can make well-informed decisions about your drinking, and limit your consumption throughout the week.
What This Means For You
Sometimes, it’s not easy to know whether you or a loved one excessively consumes alcohol. Many drinks, such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits, vary in their alcohol content. It’s good to know the alcohol content in a beverage so you can make well-informed decisions about your drinking, and limit your consumption throughout the week.
Why Are People Consuming More Alcohol?
“Prior to COVID-19, alcohol was a significant public health and mental health concern,” Nicogossian says. “The pandemic has created a host of issues impacting every facet of life and functioning.”
She says these issues can include:
Before the pandemic, coping with stress may have meant going out to watch a movie or work out in the gym. You could easily hang out with friends and family when you needed some extra support. Now, social distancing and other safety measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus have changed the way we practice leisure and self-care.
“The resources and activities individuals engage in to reduce stress and improve wellbeing have been significantly altered, put on hold or canceled altogether,” Nicogossian says.
She notes that in turn, alcohol is a readily available option and is heavily marketed as a normal way to cope with stress. “Quarantine cocktail parties and gatherings on Zoom have become popular as well as delivery services of alcohol to homes,” she says.
Who Is Most at Risk for Excessive Alcohol Consumption?
“Individuals who are at most risk for using alcohol in excess during this time are varied and complex,” Nicogossian says.
However, she does state that certain situations may put people more at risk for excessive alcohol consumption like people experiencing:
“[Researchhas shown that] parents with children in the home have higher rates of reported stress and more symptoms of depression and anxiety, compared to adults without children during the pandemic," she says.
Signs of Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Nicogossian points to a few signs that can alert you to the negative impact of excessive alcohol consumption in your life or a loved one’s:
“Alcohol use at first may reduce symptoms of stress or tension, however, this only lasts for a short amount of time, minutes perhaps to take the first edge off,” she says. The more alcohol consumed, the greater the chances of developing adverse health effects.
Healthy Coping
“Healthy coping starts with knowing yourself, being in tune with your stress levels and when you don’t feel like yourself, knowing what you can do, and what will be effective to bring down your stress or help to manage stress and also improve well-being," Nicogossian says.
Ideally, coping skills should involve activities that directly reduce stress or enhance your wellbeing. For example, a few of these activities can include:
If you believe that you or a loved one has a problem with excessive alcohol consumption, Nicogossian says that it’s normal to feel a variety of emotions, ranging everywhere from guilt to worry. “I want to encourage you to allow yourself to feel but to be gentle and compassionate with yourself,” she says. “Now is not the time to judge yourself or be critical of yourself.”
She advises that you reach out to a supportive person or a healthcare provider to help you with your journey to reduce your alcohol use. “Therapy and counseling can also be a powerful and supportive act of self-care to not only get support but also learn skills on how to manage stress, decrease alcohol use and improve overall well-being,” she says.
ᐧThe information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pollard MS, Tucker JS, Green HD.Changes in adult alcohol use and consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US.JAMA Netw Open.2020;3(9):e2022942. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.22942Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol use and your health.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pollard MS, Tucker JS, Green HD.Changes in adult alcohol use and consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US.JAMA Netw Open.2020;3(9):e2022942. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.22942Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol use and your health.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Pollard MS, Tucker JS, Green HD.Changes in adult alcohol use and consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US.JAMA Netw Open.2020;3(9):e2022942. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.22942Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol use and your health.
Pollard MS, Tucker JS, Green HD.Changes in adult alcohol use and consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US.JAMA Netw Open.2020;3(9):e2022942. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.22942
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol use and your health.
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