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Mobility restrictions and alcohol use during lockdown: “A still and dry pandemic for the many”?

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  • Celidoni, Martina
  • Costa-Font, Joan
  • Salmasi, Luca

Abstract

Unexpected mobility disruptions during lockdown during the first wave of COVID-19 became ’tipping points’ with the potential to alter pre-pandemic routines sensitive to socialisation. This paper investigates the impact of lockdown exposure on alcohol consumption. We document two findings using information from the Google Mobility Report and longitudinal data from the Understanding Society survey (UKHLS) in the United Kingdom. First, we find a sharp reduction in both actual mobility and alcohol use (consistent with a ”still and dry pandemic for the many” hypothesis). However, we document an increase in alcohol use among heavy drinkers, implying a split behavioural response to COVID-19 mobility restrictions based on alcohol use prior to the pandemic. Second, using the predictions of the prevalence-response elasticity theory, we find that the pandemic’s reduction in social contacts is responsible for a 2.8 percentage point reduction in drinking among men.

Suggested Citation

  • Celidoni, Martina & Costa-Font, Joan & Salmasi, Luca, 2023. "Mobility restrictions and alcohol use during lockdown: “A still and dry pandemic for the many”?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:50:y:2023:i:c:s1570677x23000497
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2023.101268
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Health behaviours; Lockdown; Mobility restrictions; Alcohol use; Routines; Mobility; Difference in differences; COVID-19;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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