Matthew Sherwood normally enjoys a few drinks while out with friends. But shut inside the Rose Bay apartment he shares with his partner, he has found himself cracking open the beers at home.

"I'm probably drinking most nights now as opposed to just drinking socially, usually" the 27-year-old says. "It has quickly become more socially acceptable to drink alone or without company."

Drinking more while in isolation: Matthew Sherwood in his Rose Bay apartment with his cat Archie. Credit:Wolter Peeters

He's not the only one reaching for the bottle during this period of protracted isolation. Credit and debit card data from the Commonwealth Bank shows alcohol sales were up 20 per cent in the week to March 20, compared to the same week last year.

Digging into the detail reveals a more pronounced trend. Alcohol sales at bottle shops were up 37 per cent. Even after you factor in the gradual shift from cash to card transactions, sales were still up more than 30 per cent.