Alcohol Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Self-Reported Changes and Motives for Change

<b><i>Background:</i></b> In Europe, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a range of restrictive measures, which may have impacted alcohol consumption. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> We explored perceived changes in alcohol consumption, their association with sociodemographic characteristics and past year alcohol consumption, and self-reported reasons for change after CO­VID-19 restrictions in Norway. <b><i>Method:</i></b> A web-based survey was sent to Norwegians aged 18 years and older in June–July 2020. Respondents reporting any past year alcohol use (<i>n</i> = 1,200) were asked whether they drank less, approximately the same, or more after the COVID-19 restrictions compared to before and reasons for drinking less or more. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Almost a third (29.9%) reported they drank less, whereas 13.3% reported they drank more. Females, younger respondents, and Oslo residents were more likely to report both less and more drinking (<i>p</i> values between 0.001 and 0.029). Past year alcohol use was associated with less drinking (OR = 0.93; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) and more drinking (OR = 1.07; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). More drinking was also associated with living with child(ren) (<i>p</i> = 0.023) and high educational level (<i>p</i> = 0.029). The most frequently reported reasons for drinking less pertained to fewer social occasions and less on-premise drinking, whereas reasons for drinking more pertained to treating oneself to something good and fewer consequences of drinking more. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> After the COVID-19 restrictions were implemented, a substantial proportion of Norwegians changed their drinking behaviour.

Primary Reason for Drinking Among Current, Former, and Never Flushing College Students

Alcohol consumption among individuals who experience a flushing response (reddening of the face, nausea, dizziness, headache, anxiety, and increased heartbeat) can result in serious health problems. However, studies on reasons for drinking among flushers, especially in the college context, are limited. Thus, this study investigated the association between primary reason for drinking and alcohol use among a nationally representative sample of current, former, and never flushing college students. The aim was to measure whether college students with current or former experience of facial flushing have different primary reasons for drinking compared to students with no experience of facial flushing. We surveyed and analyzed the data of 4590 students in a nationally representative sample of 82 colleges in South Korea. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify the association between primary reason for drinking and alcohol intake. Alcohol intake was measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Among 1537 current (33.5%), 152 former (3.3%), and 2901 (63.2%) never flushers, mean AUDIT scores were 7.715 ± 5.434, 11.039 ± 6.405, and 10.465 ± 5.779, respectively. Current flushers had significantly higher AUDIT scores when drinking for pleasure (β = 2.696, p < 0.0001) or stress/depression (β = 2.578, p < 0.0001). Primary reasons for drinking were not associated with alcohol intake for former flushers. Never flushers had significantly higher AUDIT scores when drinking for pleasure (β = 2.696, p < 0.0001), stress/depression (β = 2.578, p < 0.0001), or boredom (β = 0.740, p = 0.029) than peer pressure. Our results suggest that former and never flushers consume higher amounts of alcohol on average than never flushers. For current flushers, drinking for pleasure or stress/depression may increase alcohol intake, while for never flushers, drinking for pleasure, stress/depression, as well as boredom may have the same effect.

Variables Associated with Alcohol Consumption and Abstinence among Young Adults in Central China

This paper presents a descriptive analysis of data gathered by personal interviews from a multistage random sample of 1640 residents aged 18–34 years in Wuhan, China. First, alcohol drinkers and abstainers were compared based on demographic, attitude, and belief variables. Next, the drinkers from the sample were classified into four groups based on frequency-quantity of alcohol use, and the frequency-quantity groups were compared on the same variables. For Abstainers versus Drinkers, we found no difference by age or gender in this sample. Married people and people with children were more likely to be abstainers. University-educated, currently-employed individuals in mid-level jobs were more likely to abstain from alcohol. Vocational/Technical graduates, people who were currently attending college, currently unemployed and never-employed individuals were more likely to be drinkers. Abstainers also responded with less-positive attitudes and beliefs about drinking and attached more importance to reasons for not drinking compared to drinkers. When the drinking frequency-quantity groups were compared, gender differences became significant: more high-quantity drinkers were women; however the guideline for quantity for women was >1 drink at a time compared to >2 drinks at a time for men. Quantity and frequency of drinking was significantly associated with having children, educational level, employment status, and type of occupation. Age, marital status, and being in college did not relate significantly with quantity and frequency of drinking alcohol. Attitudes and beliefs about drinking tended to be more positive among high-frequency and high-quantity drinkers. Drinkers in all frequency-quantity groups attached greater importance to social reasons for drinking compared to personal/psychological reasons for drinking. Drinkers in the lowest frequency-quantity group attached the most importance to reasons for not drinking. These findings confirmed that in China drinking plays an important role in socializing and celebrating, and that there are important differences between alcohol drinkers and abstainers and between frequency/quantity groups of drinkers. Western models of individualized motivation of behaviors may not accurately explain alcohol use in China. We believe the findings from this study suggest the need for more detailed studies of alcohol drinking and abstaining.