During this time of uncertainty, the CDC and the World Health Organization have advised us to practice social distancing and isolation to help flatten the curve of spreading Coronavirus. COVID-19, Coronavirus, or Corona, as other people would say, is here, and there is no telling when this pandemic will come to an end. As the stock markets continue to crash, filing of unemployment and mortality rates continue to rise, not finding a single roll of tissue and paper towel insight, and now on the news of murder hornets racing to the United States for the first time in history. It just appears as the world is going to end.
The world is at a standstill, and everyone around the globe is experiencing levels of uncertainty that leads many to feel bored, stressed, anxious, depressed, and lonely. Cooped up in the house all day long by yourself, significant other, children, or with family can cause someone to have these negative feelings. Since everything around us is going downhill, drinking a glass of wine or a bottle of beer seems right for the occasion.
Even though restaurants and bars are not currently open because of Coronavirus, that is not stopping anyone from buying and indulging in alcohol during this pandemic. The demand and consumption of alcohol have increased in sales over 50% since March this year in comparison to last year (Rebalancing the ‘COVID-19 Effect’ on Alcohol Sales 2020). The United States is allowing businesses to have carryout cocktails, home deliveries, and purchasing alcohol online, which is making it easier to stock up on alcohol in your pantry or fridge.
Now in this day and age, it is easier and faster to obtain alcoholic beverages than everyday essentials like toilet paper. Why are we rushing to grab a bottle of wine or order 24 packs of our favorite beer instead? The significant increase in alcohol sales during this period reflects how we may use alcohol as medicine to treat our stress and depression. Women in comparison to men drink for different reasons. Women drink in response to negative emotions while men drink for positive reinforcement and pleasure (Alcohol and the Female Brain 2018). Women may drink alcohol to escape the harsh realities of the effects of Coronavirus. Women are feeling depressed and stressed about losing their job, surrounded by too many people or no one in their house or apartment, isolated with an abusive partner, or taking care of their children 24/7 during this stressful time.
The effects of alcohol can change someone’s mood and behavior instantly. Drinking one to two drinks of alcohol can uplift your mood, feeling happier when everything around you seems to be falling apart. Drinking more than two drinks can make someone feel so relaxed, losing control of your movements to forgetting why you were sad or depressed in the first place (Lautieri,2020). The problem with indulging large volumes of alcohol alters your ability to think things thoroughly, especially when you have negative thoughts or feelings, which can lead to impaired memory, poor judgment, risky behavior, and becoming violent. Drinking seems to be a quick fix to ease some of our problems, but we fail to realize the long term negative effects it can have on our bodies such as liver and brain damage, depression, cancer, and infertility.
Mental health and alcoholism are becoming severe public health issues during this pandemic. Ultimately, alcohol consumption is by choice, we have to take responsibility for our actions and how much we decide to consume throughout the day. We also need to ask ourselves, why did I choose to pick up this glass of wine or drink this can of beer? Am I drinking because of boredom? Or am I drinking because I want to escape reality or suppress negative thoughts?
Additionally, here is a video on Americans buying alcohol, alcohol sales, and health concerns on alcohol consumption during Covid-19.
References
1.“Alcohol and the Female Brain’ Presented by NIAAA Director Dr. George F. Koob.” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 10 Jan. 2018, www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-and-female-brain-presented-niaaa-director-dr-george-f-koob.
2. Lautieri, Amanda. “Alcohol Effect on Brain: Short & Long-Term Mental & Cognitive Effects.” 3 Feb. 2020. American Addiction Centers, americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/mental-effects.
3.“Rebalancing the ‘COVID-19 Effect’ on Alcohol Sales.” Nielsen, 5 July, 2020, www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/article/2020/rebalancing-the-covid-19-effect-on-alcohol-sales/.
4.“‘Wasp’ Memes & GIFs.” Imgflip, imgflip.com/tag/wasp.