Search
Close this search box.

Problem drinking spike caused by pandemic

Founder of One Year No Beer calls for business owners to be encouraged to offer alcohol-related support to struggling staff A third of Brits reported drinking more frequently due to Covid in the first lockdown Factors include living alone, living with children, impact on psychological wellbeing and being furloughed

People are being urged to change their relationship with alcohol and employers are called to help workers struggling with pandemic-related problem drinking. This follows a study by UCL (University College London) looking at how the coronavirus lockdown affected drinking patterns, with factors including living alone and furlough associated with increased consumption.

According to the research, by the Department of Behavioural Science and Health, a third of Brits who took part in the survey reported drinking more than before the pandemic, with just under a fifth admitting to consuming more units per drinking session.

The study also found furloughed employees’ drinking patterns have been greatly impacted, with furloughed men being three times more likely to increase their heavy episodic drinking, compared to those still in the workplace.

However, many men turned to binge drinking due to the challenges of living with children, the negative experience of social distancing and deteriorating financial circumstances and psychological wellbeing.

Furloughed women were also found to be twice as likely to increase heavy episodic drinking – defined by more than six units per session. Young women and those living alone in lockdown were more likely to turn to drinking excessively, as were those who had suffered a decline in their psychological welfare.

Ruari Fairbairns, Founder and CEO of One Year No Beer, a leading alcohol behavioural change programme,believes business owners should be encouraged to offer alcohol-related help and support for those who have been struggling with their physical and mental wellbeing in these difficult and emotional times.

He says: “Lockdown has been extremely challenging for the nation, causing the most radical changes to work, home and social life – more than society has ever known. If the nation faces future lockdowns, then it is hugely important that workers, particularly those on furlough or similar schemes, are offered sufficient help and support to cope with alcohol use and anxiety.

“The bonuses for both employer and employee are huge – people who take control of their relationship with alcohol are more productive and healthier. The One Year No Beer community can help play a role in that by offering support, guidance and help to anyone concerned about their own or others’ drinking. And it is not all about abstinence, it’s about empowering people to break old habits and build new ones.”

Melissa Oldham, UCL Research Fellow, states: Lockdown has caused stress about work, health, finances and caring responsibilities. Stress can have a polarising effect on drinking with some responding maladaptively by drinking heavily and others abstaining altogether. This study identifies groups that may require targeted support in future lockdowns.”

https://www.oneyearnobeer.com

    Read more

    Latest News

    Read More

    A Four-Day Working Week in the Construction Industry?

    29 March 2024

    Newsletter

    Receive the latest HR news and strategic content

    Please note, as per the GDPR Legislation, we need to ensure you are ‘Opted In’ to receive updates from ‘theHRDIRECTOR’. We will NEVER sell, rent, share or give away your data to third parties. We only use it to send information about our products and updates within the HR space To see our Privacy Policy – click here

    Latest HR Jobs

    University of Warwick – WMGSalary: £23,144 to £25,138 per annum

    The Open University – People ServicesSalary: £57,696 to £64,914 + up to £8,000 per annum MRP supplement*

    Cardiff UniversitySalary: Competitive

    University of Oxford – Oxford Department of International DevelopmentSalary: £28,759 to £33,966 (Grade 5)

    Read the latest digital issue of theHRDIRECTOR for FREE

    Read the latest digital issue of theHRDIRECTOR for FREE