One in three adults drank more alcohol during first lockdown

COVID-19 and lockdown measures drove some individuals more than others to use alcohol to cope with stress, a new study has revealed. While overall alcohol consumption appeared to fall, a study published in  BMJ Open  found that more than one in three adults (36%) increased their consumption during the first lockdown. As COVID-19 remains part of daily life, many of us are turning to alcohol to cope with stress. For many people, drinking in moderation can be help with stress relief, but for others it can be more problematic Valerie Voon In early March, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic and many countries put in place drastic safety measures to control the spread of the virus, including an extended lockdown period. In the UK, the first nationwide lockdown started on 23 March and lasted until 1 June, when restrictions began to be eased. Since then more localised lockdowns have been implemented where necessary. A team of researchers at the University of Cambridge has explored whether the stress of the pandemic and lockdown measures affected people's alcohol consumption.