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Did COVID-19-Related Alcohol Sales Restrictions Reduce Alcohol Consumption? Findings from a National Online Survey in South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Marieke Theron

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville 7535, South Africa)

  • Rina Swart

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville 7535, South Africa)

  • Mukhethwa Londani

    (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town 7505, South Africa)

  • Charles Parry

    (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
    Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa)

  • Petal Petersen Williams

    (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
    Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7935, South Africa)

  • Nadine Harker

    (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
    School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7935, South Africa)

Abstract

Background: South Africa has a high prevalence of heavy episodic drinking (HED). Due to the high levels of alcohol misuse and violence, public hospital intensive care units were often overrun during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research investigated alcohol intake behaviour change during differing levels of lockdown restrictions, which included bans on alcohol sales. Methods: A self-reported Facebook survey ran from July to November 2020. The questions included socio-demographics, income, alcohol intake, purchasing behaviour, and reasoning. Chi-square tests/Fisher’s exact test for categorical data, Student’s t -test for normal continuous data, and the Mann–Whitney U test for non-normal data were applied. Multiple logistic regression was run for HED versus moderate drinkers. Results: A total of 798 participants took part in the survey, of which 68.4% were female. Nearly 50% of participants fell into the HED category and the majority bought alcohol illegally during restrictions. HED respondents who drank more alcohol than usual during restrictions reported that they felt stressed, needed to relax, and were bored. Conclusions: Policies intended to increase the pricing of alcohol may have the potential to reduce alcohol intake. Reducing stress and anxiety may be key to curtailing HED during emergency situations.

Suggested Citation

  • Marieke Theron & Rina Swart & Mukhethwa Londani & Charles Parry & Petal Petersen Williams & Nadine Harker, 2022. "Did COVID-19-Related Alcohol Sales Restrictions Reduce Alcohol Consumption? Findings from a National Online Survey in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2422-:d:753557
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Julio Torales & Marcelo O’Higgins & João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia & Antonio Ventriglio, 2020. "The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(4), pages 317-320, June.
    2. Ihsaan Bassier & Joshua Budlender & Rocco Zizzamia & Ronak Jain, 2023. "The labour market and poverty impacts of COVID‐19 in South Africa," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 91(4), pages 419-445, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaoyu Wang & Zaifei Ma & Chunan Wang, 2022. "A Longitudinal Study on the Addictive Behaviors of General Population before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-12, May.

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