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

Abstract

<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.