The current COVID-19 pandemic presents multiple factors that may induce stress in women. Elements such as job insecurity, disruption of daily routines, unstable housing and negative impacts on 401(k)’s are examples of current stress factors. To cope with stress many people resort to alcohol to assist them through difficult times, as alcohol acts as a downer and sedative making it effective at temporary stress relief(Jones, Dr. Kirtly Parker). Reports from April of this year have shown that alcohol sales had increased by fifty-percent compared to the same time frame a year ago in 2019(Jones, Dr. Kirtly Parker). As a result of stay-at-home orders in effect there has been increased deliveries of alcohol directly to people’s homes(Jones, Dr. Kirtly Parker). With the increased consumption of alcohol in the United States of America it is important to clarify how alcohol affects one’s body and how alcohol may or may not have an impact on the COVID-19 disease. 

In general, there is not a set “safe limit” of alcohol consumption as alcohol can have short and long term effects on most organs in our body with risk of negative health impacts increasing based on the amount of alcohol consumed(World Health Organization). Additionally, alcohol has been shown to debilitate immune systems based on the amount consumed, which can prevent the body from dealing with infections diseases(World Health Organization). Even in minute amounts alcohol can be a risk factor associated with cancer, decision making abilities and negative behaviours for one’s health(World Health Organization). Alcohol also presents a risk to pregnant mothers as it can harm the unborn child and lead to health complications within pregnant women(World Health Organization). In regards to COVID-19, extreme alcohol consumption increases one’s risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is an impediment associated with COVID-19(World Health Organization). 

With all that being stated regarding the risk factors associated with alcohol consumption here are some tips for how to handle alcohol concerning dealing with one’s stress and ensuring their health is not majorly impacted by alcohol. The first suggestion is to abstain from drinking to completely avoid the negative effects of alcohol and sobriety allows one to make clearer and more responsible decisions; however, if one does drink they should not allow themselves to drink to the point they are intoxicated(World Health Organization). Another key thing to remember is to not use alcohol while using any medications as alcohol can make the medication less potent to where it isn’t functional or may make a medication so potent that it becomes toxic(World Health Organization). Lastly, people should avoid using alcohol to deal with stress as drinking can lead to worse symptoms of panic, anxiety, depression and other mental disorders(World Health Organization).

The last bit of information I want to provide is in regards to rumors and misinformation about how COVID-10 interacts with alcohol. One rumor that needs to be put to rest is that alcohol consumption can destroy the coronavirus. Alcohol can be used as an epidermal disinfectant, but does not react the same way when consumed and can cause more harm than good(World Health Organization). Additionally, alcohol can not kill the Coronavirus when inhaled, meaning alcohol is not an effective throat or mouth disinfectant for COVID-19(World Health Organization). Lastly, I want to reiterate that alcohol overall has a negative effect on immune systems; therefore, alcohol consumption may increase one’s chance of complications from COVID-19. 

In conclusion, for women dealing with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic alcohol should not be used as a go-to stress reliever. Instead people should look to their family or community for assistance. Regardless of the specific source, people should look to and create self-support systems to deal with stress instead of relying on being intoxicated(World Health Organization). 

References

1.  World Health Organization. Alcohol and COVID-19: What You Need to Know. 2020, www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/437608/Alcohol-and-COVID-19-what-you-need-to-know.pdf.
2. jones, dr. kirtly parker. “Stress Drinking: Alcohol Consumption Increases During COVID-19.” University of Utah Health, 23 Apr. 2020, healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=0_p0xim6x3

Why are all the corner stores still open? In my neighborhood, there’s a package store right on Bill Arp Road next to the Walmart. It’s been consistently open every day from 8am to 11pm, including when Governor Brian Kemp issued a “shelter-in-place” mandate on April 2nd, 2020. During this period, Governor Kemp instructed Georgians to isolate themselves except for essential businesses. Kemp did not define what “essential business” meant within his executive order, but can we assume that Liquor stores are not a necessary aspect to any community, right? Should individuals prioritize toilet paper, bread, as well as Tito’s Vodka on their “PANDEMIC-MUST-HAVE” grocery list?

We can assume that the American population sees alcohol as a necessity based on data provided by CNN.  CNN noted that “Alcohol sales have increased by 55% during the third week of March” (CNN, 2019).  Following this spike in alcohol consumption, Forbes analyzed the growth of alcohol sales during this time. They noted that Nielsen (a global provider of market research) Vice President, Danelle Kosmal commented that, “28% of frequent on-premise drinkers said they purchased more alcohol in the past month at a physical store, compared to 15% of the average drinker claiming to purchase more at a store”. (Forbes, 2020). It seems like the pandemic and alcohol go hand-in-hand, so where are these liquor stores?  

Remember that package store on Bill Arp Road? It’s located in Douglasville, Georgia. This is an area where 79% of the population consists of Black and Latinx civilians. This package store, along with others, has longer store hours, which allows for more revenue to come in each day. This scenario can be replicated with bodegas in Washington Heights, NYC, an area where 56.3% of the population consists of Black and Latinx communities. Governor Cuomo of New York, “ordered all non-essential businesses statewide to close, in an attempt to curb the spread of infection. Supermarkets, pharmacies, laundromats, gas stations, liquor stores, and restaurants have all been declared essential businesses. They will be allowed to remain open” (New York Post, 2020).  Is declaring “liquor stores” as an essential business beneficial to the communities in which they reside, or is this product of negligence that will overwhelmingly affect this demographic?

Alcohol consumption is encouraged and enabled onto these communities, which is the same demographic that is being profoundly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. National Geographic reported that one-third of all COVID related deaths have been within the black community. Salud America stated that 26.9% of reported COVID-19 deaths belong to the Latinx demographic. The stress of economic stability, safety, and various racial stigmas are weighing heavily on these communities during this outbreak. This can result in the mass consumption of alcohol to relieve stress and to ignore instability.  Liquor stores and food deserts are exceptionally prominent with PoC neighborhoods, but how can a pandemic be eradicated when basic human necessities aren’t met for those that are most impacted? How do we shift the importance of alcohol accessibility in these neighborhoods, to providing these individuals with culturally competent healthcare, safe living situations, and socioeconomic stability? These questions have a vast amount of credible answers but let’s conclude this post with three facts:

1. There are more liquor stores in Brown and Black communities than grocery markets, especially in cities with low socioeconomic rates. This is a direct result of gentrification and systematic inequalities.
2. Liquor stores are viewed as an “essential business” and will remain open in these neighborhoods. These are the same neighborhoods that are genuinely suffering from COVID related deaths. Opening liquor stores, and having them be the most accessible form of barter in this community is negligent.
3. “Racism isn’t just what you say, think, do, and feel. It is also what you allow.” Prioritizing liquor consumption in these areas, over basic human needs like safe housing, quality food, and quality health care allows Racism to be at the forefront during this COVID-19 pandemic.

References

Renton, A. (2020, May 20th). Coronavirus pandemic: Updates from around the world. Retrieved May 21st, 2020, from https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-05-20-20-intl/index.html

2020 Executive Orders. (2020, April 03rd). Retrieved May 21st, 2020, from https://gov.georgia.gov/executive-action/executive-orders/2020-executive-orders

Micallef, J. (2020, April 06th). How The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Upending The Alcoholic Beverage Industry. Retrieved May 21st, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemicallef/2020/04/04/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-is-upending-the-alcoholic-beverage-industry/

U.S. Census. (2019, July 01st). U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Douglasville city, Georgia. Retrieved May 21st, 2020, from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/douglasvillecitygeorgia

Stokes, D. (n.d.). White Privilege Quotes (87 quotes). Retrieved May 21st, 2020, from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/white-privilege

Furnari, C. (2020, April 30th). Are Americans Drinking Their Way Through The Coronavirus Pandemic? Retrieved May 21st, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisfurnari/2020/04/30/are-americans-drinking-their-way-through-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

Warerkar, T. (2020, March 24th). NYC Liquor and Wine Store Sales Are Skyrocketing During Ongoing Shutdown. Retrieved May 21st, 2020, from https://ny.eater.com/2020/3/24/21191721/nyc-liquor-wine-stores-sales-increase-coronavirus

Google. (n.d.). PoC Definition. Retrieved May 21st, 2020, from https://www.google.com/search?q=poc+meaning

Brooks, K. (2014, March 10th). Research shows food deserts more abundant in minority neighborhoods. Retrieved May 21st, 2020, from https://hub.jhu.edu/magazine/2014/spring/racial-food-deserts/

Hidalgo, S., ​Melton, A., McNamee, Caballero-Reynolds, A., Sisti, M., & Barrayn, L. (2020, April 29th). African Americans struggle with a disproportionate COVID death toll. Retrieved May 21st, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/04/coronavirus-disproportionately-impacts-african-americans/

Despres, C. (2020, May 14th). Coronavirus Case Rates and Death Rates for Latinos in the United States. Retrieved May 21st, 2020, from https://salud-america.org/coronavirus-case-rates-and-death-rates-for-latinos-in-the-united-states/

CDC. (2020, April 22nd). COVID-19 in Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups. Retrieved May 21st, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/racial-ethnic-minorities.html

               Its well known that alcohol has a correlation with intimate partner violence (IPV) with many studies over the years showing this relationship. Alcohol is an aggravator of IPV because of its dis-inhibitory effect on aggression, suppression of a person’s ability to negotiate and navigate volatile situations, while increasing lack of self-control. The United Nations Population Fund recent estimates suggest that at least 15 million cases of IPV will occur due to COVID-19 lock-down measures; and with alcohol sales increasing drastically across the globe during lock-down, there’s bound to be a connection between the two. For relationships already suffering domestic abuse during the pandemic, alcohol adds fuel to the fire, but with all the other stressful factors caused by COVID-19, new cases of violence and abuse could emerge. Alcohol and IPV not only have a relationship with the perpetrator and violence incidents, but also with the victim and their increased likelihood of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol consumption by the abuser during lock-down:

                Since we already know alcohol can aggravate domestic violence, when combined with the isolation, stress, economic anxiety, and unemployment caused by the pandemic and shelter in place orders, perpetrators are more likely to turn to abusive behaviors, taking out stress and anger on their partners. Not only does the rate of abuse increase with alcohol consumption, but also the severity of abuse. With bars and restaurants closed due to lock-down measures, abusers must drink at home, while victims are unable to leave and get away from them, increasing the risk of IPV.

A core component of IPV is the perpetrator controlling and isolating their victim, which the pandemic has created perfect conditions for. Women trapped at home may be unable to call for help due to their abusers’ constant surveillance of their daily actions and phone and/or social media.

Another worrisome fact is that gun sales are also increasing. This fact, combined with increased alcohol consumption, makes the risk of domestic violence related homicide a growing concern. There are already reports across the globe of intimate partner homicides related to factors due to the pandemic.

IPV and lock-down increasing women’s alcohol abuse:

For women in abusive relationship who have alcohol disorders, the pandemic may be worsening their dependence or likelihood of relapse.  Victims of IPV are twice as likely to consume alcohol than their partner who perpetrated the abuse according to a study published by the Institute of alcohol studies. This could be due to how women use alcohol as a means of self-medicating to numb the pain of abuse. Increased IPV and other anxieties already heightened by the pandemic lead to more victim’s turning to alcohol to cope. For recovering addicts such stressors could lead to their relapse during lock-down.

Furthermore, institutions where victims tend to seek emotional support and moments of freedom from their abusers are now closed, taking away healthy coping mechanisms that reduce alcohol use. It is a Catch-22 situation: COVID-19 stressors increase alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, this alcohol consumption increases violence against their partner, this violence increases emotional stress, and thus alcohol consumption by the victim. A difficult cycle to stop.

For women with alcohol dependencies, an abuser may use alcohol as a method of control, maintaining and enabling the addiction. Financial hardships increase this control if a woman is unable to seek help on her own because of economic or job loss.

Has banning alcohol during lock-down helped?

                Though most countries that have banned alcohol sales during lock down did so for social distancing purposes, a few others implemented bans for the sole purpose of curbing domestic violence. It’s difficult to tell whether such measures have helped due to the many factors associated with IPV, but multiple reports have shown continued increases in IPV during the pandemic even with alcohol bans.  One example being India, where there was a four-fold increase in domestic violence calls from women after their husbands lost their jobs. While with the alcohol ban, there was no significant difference in the number of women seeking treatment due to IPV at hospitals. One program director exclaimed, “There is no difference in their [husbands] treatment of women really. They would abuse the women when they had alcohol, and now they are abusing them because they don’t.” This sentiment portrays the idea that the root causes of IPV need to be address, rather than just blaming alcohol.

Repercussions that could continue after the pandemic:

                The increase in alcohol consumption and IPV during COVID-19 could lead to many consequences that continue on even after the pandemic ends. Unintended pregnancies due to sexual violence could prevent a woman from leaving an abusive relationship. The consequences of alcohol abuse increase among IPV victims could persist as well. If a woman does try to leave the relationship after lock-down ends, it could result in her death since most intimate partner homicides happen when the women tries to leave. With so many unknowns on how exactly the pandemic will negatively impact outcomes of IPV, communities need to be prepared with initiatives to support these women during these times as well as afterward.

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 

References:

Campbell, A. M. (2020). An increasing risk of family violence during the Covid-19 pandemic: Strengthening community collaborations to save lives. Forensic Science International: Reports, 2, 100089. doi: 10.1016/j.fsir.2020.100089

Centre for Public Health. (2006). Intimate partner violence and alcohol [Fact sheet]. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/world_report/factsheets/fs_ intimate.pdf

Domestic Abuse and Women’s Alcohol Issues. (2020, April 15). Retrieved from https://www.alcohol.org/women/domestic-abuse-and-alcoholism/

Flair, L. N. L., Bradshaw, C. P., Storr, C. L., Green, K. M., Alvanzo, A. A. H., & Crum, R. M. (2012). Intimate Partner Violence and Patterns of Alcohol Abuse and Dependence Criteria Among Women: A Latent Class Analysis. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 73(3), 351–360. doi: 10.15288/jsad.2012.73.351

Institute of Alcohol Studies. (2014). Alcohol, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault. London.

Srivastava, R., & Harrisberg, K. (2020, May 5). Will lockdown alcohol bans affect domestic violence? Retrieved from https://news.trust.org/item/20200505191710-1niva

Stanley, M. (2020, May 9). Why the Increase in Domestic Violence During COVID-19? Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/making-sense-chaos/202005/why-the-increase-in-domestic-violence-during-covid-19

Excessive alcohol consumption, such as binge drinking, is a global health concern among women. According to the CDC, gender differences such as body structure and brain chemistry can cause women to absorb more alcohol and take longer to remove from their system. About 12% of adult women binge drink three times a month, with an average of 5 drinks per binge. The drinking patterns can have adverse effects on the liver, heart, and brain. There are several options in helping reduce the risk of alcohol, one of which is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

AA is an international program for recovering alcoholics where they help those in need through support groups, self-help groups, and abstinence models. It is a way to improve on emotional, mental, psychological, and physical stability and well-being. AA groups support those in need through regular group meetings and are crucial in the recovery program. The initiation of physically going to a meeting, sitting in a chair, and listening to others that can relate to you is powerful. For those who have gone through the program and are on their way to a milestone of sobriety, certain factors can have an impact on relapse. It’s difficult enough to acknowledge the fact that someone might need help and support in alcohol consumption reduction, but now let’s add a global pandemic to the mix…

The pandemic has brought on many changes to lives such as unemployment, self-isolation, quarantine, social distancing, and closing of businesses. These factors can greatly increase stress and anxiety in an individual or in a community. Stress induces structural and functional ramifications on the brain producing altered behaviors in individuals’ coping capabilities. A global pandemic just magnifies these stressful conditions. Stress and anxiety have been found to be important triggers for relapse and they promote increased motivation to drink in some individuals. Studies have shown that for women, marriage and martial stress are triggers for relapses in alcohol.

COVID-19 has placed a financial burden on millions of people as they have filed for unemployment. The stress and anxiety from wondering how they will pay bills, when will they get their job back, or even if they will get their job back, can be a trigger to relapsing. Women who are independent and have to support their children might find comfort in their “mommy-juice” like before. According to Dr. Koob, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Director, physical or social distancing can impact treatment services. Social support is an influential and beneficial reinforcer for helping people avoid relapses. Another trigger to alcohol relapse is that drinking has become a societal norm. Social media is teeming with alcohol ads and memes. The pressure from society that you need to drink to relieve stress can trigger alcoholics into relapsing. Even memes on AA programs have become degraded and seen as a joke for after the global pandemic ends. 

But all is not lost… Even in these trying times, there have been some programs that have migrated towards hosting virtual sessions and have overcome the obstacles COVID-19 has presented. The Atlanta AA program, along with other city programs, have converted to a digital platform devoted to people in recovery. As mentioned earlier, women metabolize alcohol differently than men and this can put them at jeopardy if it’s not managed. Many AA communities have special interest women’s meetings where it might be easier to identify as an alcoholic among other women. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has many great resources on alcohol relapse during COVID-19. The resources include professionally led treatment via phone or video, therapy sessions, mutual support groups, podcasts, and apps.

[1] Becker, H.C. 2017. Influence of stress associated with chronic alcohol exposure on drinking. Neuropharmacology. 122, 115-126.

[2] Burtscher, J., Burtscher, M., Millet G.P. 2020. (Indoor) isolation, stress and physical inactivity: vicious circles accelerated by Covid‐19?. doi:10.1111/sms.13706

[3] Ferri, M., Amato, L., Davoli, M. 2006. Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programmes for alcohol dependence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (3):CD005032.

[4] Walitzer, K.S., Dearing, R.L. 2006. Gender differences in alcohol and substance use relapse. Clinical Psychology Review. 26, 128-148.

COVID-19 has brought many new changes in people’s lives. There is lot of uncertainty associated with this pandemic as many cases are increasing worldwide. Many people are losing jobs, there is lot of economic-uncertainty, social-distancing is causing many people to be lonely as they stay at home with gripping fear in their hearts. This is causing lot of anxiety and fear all around the world.

What are the Reasons associated with increase intake of alcohol in women during pandemic?

Some of the reasons associated with increase intake of alcohol in during pandemic are:

According to a report there was a 50 % increase in alcohol sales and home delivery of alcohol also drastically increased about 300 % in March when compared to January 2020. People were stocking beforehand for social distancing. A report suggests that women are using alcohol to treat their stress, worries, fears, anxiety, and depression. Stress and anxiety are usually caused when they are locked in the house due to self-isolation, helping kids to finish up their school assignments, stress of loneliness, stress about job layoffs, stress with their newborn child, or fear of sleepless nights.

 Source:https://sites.gsu.edu/whyshedrinks/2019/06/21/i-promise-not-to-drunk-dial-you-alcohol-you-later/

Especially, with ongoing threat of coronavirus, women feel worried, anxious, and stressed for themselves or their loved ones. It is human nature that we all worry that something may happen to us. And when faced with unknown situations and circumstances we go through fear and doubts which may lead to self-medication. And some women choose alcohol as self-medication to calm their anxieties.

According to the research, single mothers tend to drink more alcohol. Raising a child alone has greater responsibility and can be very exhaustive. It can be extremely challenging for a single parent to give their child the best life. Majority of single mothers face financial stress such as financial independence to pay rent, water bills, electricity, health care, food cost, transport or car registration, and school fees. These can trigger significant anxiety and stress among single mothers. Some single mothers think that the alcohol is the only way out to cope with the situations. Also, the research suggest more single mothers are relying on alcohol to be content.

Social influences can also play a significant factor in women’s likelihood of drinking alcohol.

  Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com/alcohol-breastfeeding-and-breast-milk-supply-431837

For example, a social setting such as parties or friends’ gatherings, where alcohol is widely used and encouraged, women are more likely to participate in drinking alcohol. Friends can be a big influence on drinking alcohol. If a friend is alcoholic, then it is more likely that they will influence others to do the same.

Due to the social distancing it has become highly impossible for people to meet at the bars to socialize and drink. Other means of socializing these days is through social network. People are using social network as way of expressing and communicating with each other.

  Source:https://www.facebook.com/TheWhiskyBarrelPub/photos/pb.1810695922333536.-2207520000../2817115131691605/?type=3&theater

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/416301559281337304/

Memes like these are widely spreading over the internet to encourage people in consumption of alcohol. There is a high possibility that memes are convincing women to consume alcohol during the COVID-19.

References:

Abbey, A., Smith, M. J., & Scott, R. O. (1993). The relationship between reasons for drinking alcohol and alcohol consumption: An interactional approach. Addictive behaviors, 18(6), 659.

“Stress Drinking: Alcohol Consumption Increases During COVID-19.” University of Utah Health, healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=0_p0xim6x3.

“Pin by T. Dubs on Memes – Alcohol: Alcoholic Drinks, Neon Signs.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/pin/416301559281337304/.

“Coronavirus (COVID-19) & Alcoholism.” Alcohol.org, www.alcohol.org/resources/coronavirus-and-alcoholism/.

“Single Parents and Substance Abuse.” Drug and Alcohol Rehab Information and Resources – Alcohol Rehab, 25 Apr. 2019, alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/single-parents-and-substance-abuse/.

“Alcoholism And It’s Effects On Single Mothers.” Gatehouse Treatment, 1 May 2020, www.gatehousetreatment.com/single-mothers-womens-alcohol-addiction/.

At this point, I find it hard to remember what day it is. Every day is starting to feel like a Saturday or a Sunday. But not in the way where you can relax and enjoy the free time, maybe have a pleasant outing at the park or a restaurant. No, the type of weekend where you have loads of laundry to wash, a work presentation due on Monday, a school assignment on Tuesday, a lawn to cut. Even now, as I write, I have a clear peripheral of a hamper full of clean laundry that I will probably fold during my lunch break. The line between work and my personal life that used to be drawn by the hour-long traffic rides is no longer there. Now, I simply minimize the browser that has my work tabs on it and bring up the browser with Netflix, Reddit, and the latest recipe on Bon Appetit. The latter being nowhere near as satisfying.  Staying at home during the pandemic has blurred the boundaries between the pressures of work-life and personal life into one ever-growing mountain of stress that seems inescapable in the confines of my home, and I need relief.

sleep.org

The pandemic and subsequent stay-at-home mandate have brought several highly stressful risk factors that can lead to women, like me, looking to alcohol for relief. Potential stressors like unemployment, lack of childcare, isolation, household responsibilities in combination with work responsibilities, and domestic partner abuse can all be catalysts to increase in alcohol consumption, with several of these factors having a more significant burden on women. It is no wonder that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought an increase in alcohol sales. Even though bars and restaurants may be closed, grocery stores have seen a spike in alcoholic sales. Nationally, all alcoholic beverages saw a 58% increase in sales since March. Wine sales were up 66% overall with canned wines rising by 95% and canned cocktails up by 93% (Micallef, n.d.). While these results do not give details on the sex differences in purchases, it is no mystery that marketers in the wine industry have taken a liking to women to increase their sales. Recent studies by the Wine Markey Council and Nielsen show women are buying and drinking wine more often than men and more often, in general (Women, especially millennials, are driving wine trends-Chicago Tribune. (n.d.)). Also, women are likely to be the primary shoppers in their households, making them the primary purchaser of alcohol all the more plausible.

Grocery shopping is just one of the many household responsibilities that women traditionally are expected to do, even while more women are taking on full-time employment. Also, if both parents work full-time, women are still primarily in charge of most household duties. 

choice.com.au

In a national poll, women were more likely than men to say their lives have been disrupted because of the coronavirus (Cahn, N. (n.d.)). These abrupt changes in many women’s lives have cause evident stress and tension that can put them at serious risk for an increase in alcohol consumption. To provide relief, the U.S. government should develop policies that focus on equal work and home support during and potentially after this pandemic. Policies like ensuring better health insurance benefits and paid/sick leave for those unable to come to work because they are taking care of children or elders at home (Women and COVID-19) would reduce the burden of stress felt by many women in this country and lessen the chances of women seeking alcohol as a coping mechanism.

cio.com

While we shelter in place, remember to take a break. Find constructive ways to relieve stress and set clear boundaries between your responsibilities, your housemates, and your peace of mind. More and more companies are finding fascinating ways to provide online experiences that we can enjoy from the safety of our couches. Learn a new hobby, call up a friend, start a journal, make sure that whatever you do to relieve the tension that is sustainable and productive to your overall health. During the weekday, schedule in time to relax and be mindful, even if it is only for a couple of minutes. If you are living with others, do not be afraid to ask for help around the house. If you find that you are not doing a lot of the household chores, pick up a task or two to help a loved one. I will end this post like I have been finishing my Zoom calls, phone calls, and text messages with friends and family, stay safe.

Cahn, N. (n.d.). Women And The Frontlines Of COVID-19. Forbes. Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/naomicahn/2020/04/05/women-and-the-frontlines-of–covid-19/

Micallef, J. V. (n.d.). How The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Upending The Alcoholic Beverage Industry. Forbes. Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemicallef/2020/04/04/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-is-upending-the-alcoholic-beverage-industry/

Women and COVID-19: Five things governments can do now. (n.d.). UN Women. Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/3/news-women-and-covid-19-governments-actions-by-ded-bhatia

Women, especially millennials, are driving wine trends—Chicago Tribune. (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sc-fam-women-who-wine-0410-story.html

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.

Are liquor stores essential? For every state but one the answer has been “Yes”. Liquor stores have remained open throughout social distancing and sales skyrocketed by 55% as people spend all their time bored and lonely at home. Some people are drinking more as they attend Zoom happy hours or play drinking games over Discord. But the increased sales in alcohol are not just due to fun games and virtual social gatherings. They are a sign of decreased mental health as people battle stress, anxiety, and grief during this global pandemic.

Alcohol use is not the cure people need. It is associated with many negative health outcomes including weakening immune systems, chronic health problems, and increased risk-taking, including domestic violence. Many of these problems are worse for women who drink – we are more likely to suffer chronic health conditions at lower levels of alcohol and experience the brunt of domestic violence. As Dr. Parker-Jones suggests, women might be more likely to increase their drinking right now due to the stress of COVID-19 since women are more likely to use alcohol to cope with anxiety and depression.

Despite the many harms related to alcohol, almost every state in the country has decided to keep liquor stores open. This isn’t just due to the normalization of alcohol drinking or pressure to keep the economy rolling. It’s also due to the very real danger that restricting access to alcohol has on people who are physically dependent on alcohol. If these people go cold turkey, then many will suffer seizures and even death. Many will turn to non-edible sources of alcohol like drinking hand sanitizer. These individuals would suffer greatly and would burden the already stretched thin health care system.

Deciding whether liquor stores are essential is not as simple of a question as it might seem. Keeping them open may lead to worse health outcomes, more domestic violence, and encourage drinking as a way to cope with anxiety. But closing them could lead to pain and even death for those who are addicted to alcohol.

Liquor stores are essential, but only because we don’t have a good system to handle addiction and mental health. We need programs like Canada’s MAPS which ensures that physically-dependent alcohol users have access to the minimum amount of alcohol they need. We also need more affordable mental health treatment so that people, especially women, can learn better ways to cope with depression and anxiety rather than turn to drinking. Keeping liquor stores open is a band-aid solution and shows how badly we need a comprehensive mental health care system.

Authors: Symone Richardson and Christine Nguyen 

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, or the NIAAA, binge drinking is defined as an excessive amount of alcohol consumption that increases one’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 g/dl or more (1). For women, binge drinking is typically the consumption of four or more drinks in about two hours. Binge drinking is a serious public health issue that can lead to a lifetime of long-term harmful use of alcohol as well as physical harm such as alcohol poisoning or liver damage. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, binge drinking is the deadliest pattern of excessive alcohol use in the U.S. (2). Individuals between the ages of 18 and 34 were reported to be the most likely to binge drink, and compared to their non-college counterparts, young adults ages 18-22 in college are more likely to binge drink. This may be due to social or academic environments of college campuses such as social pressures to drink in order to fit in, the availability of alcohol around campuses, college party culture, or academic related stress. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2018 approximately 11.9 million, or more than a third, of young adults responded as being current binge drinkers (3).  

While the number of college students participating in binge drinking has decrease from 45% to 37% between 2003 and 2014, it is still a large problem on college campuses (4). With the global COVID-19 pandemic, these numbers are subject to another shift due to executive orders like social distancing and quarantining. In addition, almost every college campus in America suspended in-person classes early and transitioned to distance learning– with some even cancelling in–person classes for the Fall 2020 semester. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, there has not been a lot of data being produced on the current rates of binge drinking amongst college students during this time of limited interaction. However, we can consider the factors that would lead to the increase or decrease in the percentage of college students binge drinking.  

One factor could be access to alcohol. On college campuses, students who are underage may have an easier time getting alcohol, especially in large quantities, from another student or other channels than they would be able to do if they were at home. We have, however, seen that alcohol sales in the United States increased 55% in late March and included online sales and restaurants offering alcoholic beverages for takeout orders (5).  

As mentioned earlier, social pressure to drink as part of the college culture will not be as present with students at home or away from college campuses. However, the increased rate of stress and anxiety among college students regarding online learning, isolation from peers, and post-graduate plans in the midst of a pandemic can lead them to drink heavily. Women are affected by stress and anxiety at a higher rate than men with the percentages of having an anxiety disorder being 23.4% and 14.3%, respectively (6). COVID-19 is creating many physical and mental hurdles that everyone, including women and college students, face daily. Unfortunately, alcohol has been a widely used coping mechanism. Women, especially, are more likely to use alcohol consumption to cope with mental health issues like depression and anxiety disorders (7). With all the health effects from alcohol use that disproportionately affect women, it is important to monitor this issue and create interventions that will reduce the burden, especially now in the time of this global pandemic.  

References 

1. Drinking Levels Defined. (2019, November 26). Retrieved from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/moderate-binge-drinking 
2. Binge Drinking is a serious but preventable problem of excessive alcohol use. (2019, December 30). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm 
3. Alcohol Facts and Statistics. (2020, February 18). Retrieved from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics 
4. College Students Engaging in Less Binge Drinking. (2017, August 3). Retrieved from https://drugfree.org/learn/drug-and-alcohol-news/college-students-engaging-less-binge-drinking/  
5. COVID-19 drives alcohol sales, raises concerns about substance abuse. (2020, April 14). Retrieved from https://news.usc.edu/168549/covid-19-alcohol-sales-abuse-stress-relapse-usc-experts/ 
6. Any Anxiety Disorder (2017, November). Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder.shtml  
7. Stress Drinking: Alcohol Consumption Increases During COVID-19. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=0_p0xim6x3