There was a significant increase in retail alcohol sales during the beginning of the pandemic, reaching a plateau in the third quarter of 2020. These results may indicate an increase in home alcohol use during the period, which could potentially lead to higher alcohol consumption and alcohol-related adverse health outcomes.

Author

João M.Castaldelli-Maia (email: jmcmaia2@gmail.com), Luis E. Segura and Silvia S. Martins

Citation

Castaldelli-Maia, J., Segura, L. and Martins, S., 2021. The concerning increasing trend of alcohol beverage sales in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alcohol, 96, pp.37-42.

Source
Alcohol
Release date
30/08/2021

The Concerning Increasing Trend of Alcohol Beverage Sales in the U.S. During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction

There are some concerns regarding alcohol use behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mixed findings of the first alcohol use studies during this pandemic may reflect the lack of differentiation between on-premise and home consumption. Most countries adopted severe restrictions on on-premise functioning.

Method

Alcohol retail store sales temporal data were used to examine alcohol sales changes in the United States (U.S.) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as a proxy indicator of at-home alcohol use. Data were sourced from the Monthly Retail Trade Survey, which has provided U.S. representative estimates of sales at retail and food services stores since 1951. In the present study, the researchers analyzed data from seasonally adjusted beer, wine, and liquor store (BWLS) sales from January 1992 to September 2020. Poisson cubic spline models were used to assess nonlinearity in such sales during the period. These models were adjusted to the consumer price index for alcoholic beverages.

Results

There was a significant increase in retail alcohol sales during the beginning of the pandemic, reaching a plateau in the third quarter of 2020.

During the COVID-19 period (March 2020 to September 2020), there were 41.9 billion dollars in BWLS sales, representing an increase of 20% compared to the same period in 2019. On the other hand, food and on-premise retail sales decreased by 27% during the same period in the same survey. These results may indicate an increase in home alcohol use during the period, which could potentially lead to higher alcohol consumption and alcohol-related adverse health outcomes.

20%
Increase in seasonally adjusted beer, wine, and liquor store (BWLS) sales
During the COVID-19 period (March 2020 to September 2020), there were 41.9 billion dollars in seasonally adjusted beer, wine, and liquor store (BWLS) sales, representing an increase of 20% compared to the same period in 2019.

Conclusion

More aggressive efforts should be made to warn the population about the risks associated with increased home alcohol consumption during the pandemic. Additionally, tracking individual alcohol consumption and releasing real-time data at different levels are needed to better assess the effects of increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic.

Source Website: Science Direct