COVID-19 pandemic and alcohol use patterns in Moscow population: forensic aspects

Abstract

The presents an analysis of the trend of the postmortem ethanol tests in biological samples obtained from the deceased in Moscow in April-May 2019 and 2020. In total, 7110 reports of forensic chemistry studies were examined; all cases were classified by the age of the deceased, following the modern generational theory to study patterns of alcohol consumption in these age groups and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stable patterns of alcoholic behavior were revealed in the groups of the deceased. It was shown that, on average, every 3rd representative of Generations «X» and «Y» consumes alcohol shortly before death; the highest average blood ethanol levels were found in representatives of Generations «Y» and «X». The number of positive ethanol test results increased in April-May 2020 among males of the baby boom and Generation «X» compared to the same period in 2019. The patterns identified can be used to further study the contribution of alcohol consumption to mortality.