Examining the role of vulnerabilities on alcohol consumption in the age of COVID-19 and their implication for interventions

Background- Understanding the factors that may lead to alcohol misuse and problematic drinking is essential to understanding how best to design interventions to ameliorate this. Evidence suggests that in the UK, alcohol consumption has increased dramatically within certain regions and populations, with those households purchasing the most alcohol increasing these excess purchases 17 times more than those purchasing the least (1) during the COVID-19 pandemic. These increases, alongside the deepening of existing inequalities and creation of new pressures during COVID-19 suggests a need reassess these factors in light of the pandemic.
Materials and Methods-To date 1,242 responses to online questionnaires have been gathered as well as the completion of 106 semi-structured interviews. Data from these are presented, having undergone thematic analysis and their implication for future interventions are discussed.
Results-The self-reported impact of the pandemic, particularly lockdowns on the general wellbeing of participants was significant, although not always negative. However for those that indicated that they did suffer a reduction in wellbeing (and increase in alcohol consumption) sometimes multiple vulnerabilities were also implicated.
Conclusions-Vulnerability can take many forms – cultural, economic, and social being just some of these. Interventions targeting problematic alcohol consumption in communities must be aware of these vulnerabilities and the role they play in order to ensure their impact, particularly in unprecedented times.