Before and After the Pandemic: Alcohol Consumption and Related Problems in Argentina

Karina Conde,Paula Victoria Gimenez,Sebastián Laspiur,Tomás Salomón,Raquel Inés Peltzer,Mariana Cremonte

doi:10.30849/ripijp.v55i1.1444

Abstract

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and isolation measures on alcohol consumption remains unknown among Latin-American countries. This paper characterizes differences in alcohol consumption and related problems before and after the pandemic among Argentinians from different genders, age groups, income levels, and behaviors regarding the acquisition of alcoholic beverages. Through an online survey 1446 participants were assessed regarding four alcohol consumption dimensions (frequency, quantity, heavy episodic drinking -HED- and alcohol-related problems) three months prior and after the first cases in the country and subsequent lockdown measures. Overall, participants reported small reductions for usual consumption and moderate ones for HED and related problems. As expected, very high reductions were found for those underage (14 to 18 years), and young adults (19 to 24 years). Those who had an increase in income after the pandemic did not report changes in consumption, while those whose income remained equal or lowered reported reductions. Those who did not report special behaviors to acquire alcohol (e.g. pre-stocking) informed decreases in consumption compared to those who did. This study provides new evidence on the impact of environmental factors in public health, suggesting restricted access to alcohol generates a significant decrease in alcohol consumption and related problems.

Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic changed almost every life area in people all over the world
Changes on alcohol consumption before and during the pandemic for total sample For the total sample significant reductions were found in the four consumption dimensions before and during the pandemic
A medium size effect was found in alcohol related problems H(df)=105.58(1), p=.001, Cohen’s d=

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic changed almost every life area in people all over the world. Different countries coped with this new threat with a wide variety of approaches and policies. In Argentina, the main strategy promoted by the national government consisted of a system of five phases of strict social isolation (lockdown), beginning on March, 20th, when the country had 158 active cases and 3 deaths (Ministerio de Salud de la Nación [MSN], 2020a). This first phase allowed only essential workers (e.g.: physicians, nurses, basic supplies providers, security forces) to leave their homes. On July 22th, the country registered its highest number of cases in one day (5872) and reached a total of 2588 deaths since the pandemic started (MSN, 2020c)

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