Research shows that Americans are drinking more during the pandemic. Here’s why that’s troubling — and what experts suggest to avoid overdoing it.
Have you found yourself drinking more during the pandemic? If the answer is “Cheers!,” you’re not alone. Adults across the country reported imbibing 14% more often in spring 2020 than the same time the previous year, according to a report in JAMA Network Open that focused on a survey of more than 1,500 people.
This is no surprise, considering that when hand sanitizer and toilet paper were flying off the shelves in last year, so too was alcohol. As more people began sheltering in their homes to help curb the spread of COVID-19, retail alcohol sales in the U.S. started to rise along with sales of cleaning products, TP, and food, showing just how important our drinking rituals are even (and maybe especially) in a crisis.