In early March, when Australia entered lockdown for the first time, the resulting panic buying was socially viewed as irresponsible and embarrassing, even the Prime Minister chimed in calling it “un-Australian.” In the frenzy, there were many items that were collected and hoarded by people, items which included sanitiser, toilet paper, pasta and rice, among many other items considered as “essential.” But there was another commodity that people were sure to collect before the nation went into an effective and strict lockdown, alcohol.
Drinking has always been a part of Australian culture, with alcohol being presented across many occasions and celebrations. Approximately 40 per cent of the Australian population consumes alcohol at least once a week (and this was before the pandemic).
Now with Victoria in a second Lockdown, a survey was carried out by the Australian National University found that almost 20 per cent of people drank more under lockdown than they usually did. Researchers suspect that additional stresses brought upon by the lockdown and the pandemic as well as boredom of being stuck at home may be contributing to the rise in consumption of alcohol.
Aimee Heard, a mother in Victoria, who does not drink herself, was not shocked by these statistics. She explains, “I would have thought 1 in 6 was a great underestimate. I see the memes/humour relating to the increase in drinking caused by ‘isolation’… It’s become a joke and it’s a sad one, normalising everyday drinking further.”
But also, there are those who were already in the grip of a difficult relationship with alcohol before the crisis began. The community is yet to feel the complete social impact of a sudden lockdown, as many services to treat mental health and support for additions have had to move online or be cancelled entirely.
It is suggested that if anyone feels that they may have an issue arising in relation to increased alcohol consumption, as well as any concerning feelings during this period of uncertainty and lockdown, to contact a professional to speak about it.
Are you feeling the urge to drink more during this lockdown, let me know in the comments. Also, feel free to check out this survey, we hope to get a clearer picture of the impact of lockdown in relation to drinking habits:
Resources:
Cockburn. P & Taylor. T, 2020, Why women were more likely to drink alcohol than men during the coronavirus lockdown, ABC News, retrieved 20th of July 2020, <https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2020-06-10/women-drank-more-than-men-under-coronavirus-lockdown/12334986>
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)., 2018, How often do Australians drink alcohol, National Alcohol & Drug Knowledgeable, 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NCETA secondary analysis, 2018). Retrieved 20th of July 2020, <https://nadk.flinders.edu.au/kb/alcohol/consumption-patterns/frequency-consumption/how-often-do-australians-drink-alcohol/>