A new study will look at the effects of booze during the lockdown

Doctors fear that people could be drinking so much alcohol during the coronavirus lockdown that a ‘second health crisis’ is on the way.

Scientists at the University of Portsmouth have launched a study to understand how many people are turning to alcohol to handle the stress, anxiety and boredom of being isolated at home.

The research comes after worrying figures from global data analytics company Nielsen suggested that sales of alcohol have increased by 291% during the pandemic.

A university spokeswoman said: ‘The outcome of the lockdown is unknown but, according to researchers, increased alcohol use could give rise to a second health crisis.’


Sales of alcohol have soared by 291% during the pandemic, research suggests (Picture: Getty Images)

Dr Matt Parker added: ‘The potential public health effects of long-term isolation on alcohol use and misuse are unknown.



‘Alcohol misuse is one of the leading causes of preventable mortality, contributing annually to about three million deaths worldwide.

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‘This period of isolation might lead to a spike in alcohol misuse and, potentially, development of addiction in at-risk individuals or relapse in recovered addicted patients, therefore placing further strain on drug and alcohol services, and the health service in general, during and after the pandemic.’

Those who volunteer for the anonymous survey are being asked to report their alcohol use, stress, and boredom levels weekly to monitor any changes.

Dr Parker continued: ‘It is unprecedented to have so many millions of people across the world effectively locked away from their jobs, friends and families.

‘How people cope with this is varied, but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence of people responding by drinking more alcohol worldwide.’

Addiction charity Alcohol Change recently found that one in 14 people said their own or someone else’s drinking had increased stress levels in their household since the lockdown began.

If replicated across the UK, the survey would suggest 3.5 million adults are now living in an environment where increase drinking is leading to increased anxiety and conflict.

James Clay, a PhD candidate who is administering the survey, said: ‘In the first week that the survey has been up and running, people have signed up from across the world, including the UK, USA, Australia and mainland Europe.

‘In time, we hope the results will help health providers and governments to prepare for, and potentially mitigate, a second health crisis that could result if many people are consuming more alcohol.’

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