Reassessing COVID’s drinking habits can improve your health

When the COVID pandemic began, the world was blocked and people experienced overwhelming stress and uncertainty around the virus, resulting in a surge in alcohol use.According to a study published in JAMA network openNational sales of alcohol for the week ending March 21, 2020 increased 54% year-on-year.

According to another study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 60% of those surveyed reported increased drinking during a pandemic. Elyse R. Grossman, JD, PhDShe, the lead author of the report, said that more than one-third of these people Easier Access to alcohol.

“Before the pandemic, liquor stores in some states were able to deliver alcohol to consumers’ homes, but it’s unclear how many actually drank it,” Grossman told Berrywell. “But it was rare and often illegal for restaurants and bars to deliver alcohol to consumers’ homes. The pandemic changed it all.”

Health risks from increased drinking

Increased alcohol use affects health. A study published in December 2021 Hepatology We have found that increased alcohol consumption during a pandemic can significantly increase long-term alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and mortality in the general population. The authors of the study concluded that even a one-year increase in alcohol consumption is estimated to result in 8,000 ALD-related deaths.

“Every time you drink, you increase your risk of harming your health,” Grossman said. In the short term, increased alcohol consumption can lead to injuries such as drunk driving accidents and falls, as well as violence and alcoholism.

According to Grossman, the long-term health effects of increased drinking include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, cancer, weakened immunity, dementia, depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorders, and alcohol dependence. There are illnesses.

People realized that the pandemic was causing them to drink more, and many reassessed their relationship with alcohol. The popularity and “modest curiosity” movements of initiatives such as Dry January helped raise people’s belief that less is more when it comes to drinking and health.

Strive to shrink

For Anna VatuoneA Boston-based writer, completely abandoning alcohol during COVID was the right choice. Her pandemic has allowed her to spend more time on her own, especially when living alone, to address her personal challenges.

“I really had to start focusing on my health and good habits,” Vatuone told Verywell. “I moderated at dinner and probably did my best to reduce it to a glass of wine. And even that was too much for me. Still I was disappointed and my body was affected by it the next day. I received it. ”

She started posting on blogs and social media about her journey. On social media, the response is overwhelmingly positive, with over 4 million likes on the platform. Vatuone regularly shares TikToks about the ups and downs of drinking. She socializes I feel that.

People often think that people don’t drink because of addiction problems, but Vatuone’s has found a community of people who choose not to drink for personal or health-related reasons. By posting TikToks and other content about her choice to quit alcohol, she says she is helping to start a conversation about “selective drinking.”

“The whole group is grayed out. People who don’t suffer from alcohol as an addiction, but still want to reassess their relationship with alcohol,” says Vatuone. “And the more I started talking about it, the more I realized that many people shared similar feelings.”

How is the industry reacting?

Brands meet consumers where they are and are enthusiastic about the demand for non-alcoholic beverages. According to industry experts, sales of non-alcoholic or low-alcoholic beverages are increasing. In the second half of 2021 Forbes reported Sales of non-alcoholic beverages have increased 33% over the past year to $ 331 million, according to data from market research firm Nielsen.

As such, Vatuone said that the rules brought out during COVID could have serious consequences, such as allowing restaurants to sell or deliver takeaway alcohol, or extending alcohol sales time. I am concerned.

“Alcohol is the fourth leading cause of preventable death in the United States,” she said. “Without data to justify these policy changes, there are concerns that the state is making permanent (and harmful) policy changes as a result of temporary conditions like COVID-19. ”

Still, Vatuone wants to talk about the potential spillover effects of not drinking. She said the choice to openly discuss her drinking helped others to reassess their relationship with alcohol. It wasn’t her intention when she started, but the overwhelming reaction was rewarding.

“I don’t know how many people said,’I’ve cut a lot because of your video,’ or’I stopped drinking because of your video,'” said Vatuone. “When I started talking [my sobriety], I didn’t know what I was doing. I was like, “This is what’s happening.” I wanted to be honest. ”

The information in this article is up to date as of the date stated. In other words, if you read this, new information may be available. For the latest update of COVID-19, Coronavirus news page..