Wellness Wednesday: Bottoms Up and Good Health

University of Kent Occupational Health and Wellbeing Manager, Brenda Brunsdon

Do you remember back to the start of the Coronavirus crisis and the most valuable commodity was toilet roll? Pretty soon after though, within a matter of weeks, the run was not on the ultimate in dry goods but on a very wet one – alcohol.

Consumer analysts Kantar reported a 22% rise in alcohol sales from supermarkets and corner shops in March 2020. Direct sales wine merchants like Naked Wines, Laithwaites, and even vineyards, have seen sales soar.

These have been difficult times and a tipple of alcohol is many people’s ‘go to’ stress-reliever when things get tough. Since getting back together with friends and family as the lockdown has eased, many discussions have centred on alcohol consumption and how easy it has been to enjoy an evening glass of wine or G&T. The good weather we’ve enjoyed has probably encouraged that even more, sipping in the garden in the evening sunshine. More recently, as the lockdown has eased, the media has shown us scenes in town centres and at the seaside where people can be seen drinking alcohol to excess. In some areas the police have been called upon to break up alcohol fuelled illegal gatherings.

Alcohol Change UK were so concerned by what was happening that they commissioned research into this. The findings of this can be seen by accessing the link below. The article also includes good advice on how to manage alcohol consumption that is growing out of control and details accessible resources.

Alcohol consumption beyond the advised guidelines can be a significant health hazard. It can trigger major physical and mental health problems.  Click on the Drinkaware link below for full information on the health hazards associated with excessive alcohol intake and other alcohol related facts. Additionally, alcohol is often implicated in domestic violence and social problems in the home. The NHS published statistics earlier this year on alcohol behaviours in society in England. These showed that admissions to hospital in 2018/19, (358,000), where the main reason was due to drinking alcohol were 6% higher than 2017/18 and 19% higher than 2008/09. There were 5,698 alcohol-specific deaths in 2018 which represents an increase of 7% on 2008. The overwhelming majority of these were related to alcoholic liver disease; alongside this a significant proportion were caused by mental and behavioural disorders due to the use of alcohol and accidental poisoning related to alcohol.

Alcohol is a socially acceptable, legal drug. Like all drugs, it comes with positives and negatives. Not everyone can enjoy it without the negatives becoming a serious issue. Many of us enjoy the taste and the positive socialising effects it gives. However, the best advice appears to be to use it little and not so often.

‘Coronavirus: Shoppers stock up on alcohol amid lockdown’: BBC, 10 April 2020

‘Coronavirus: Increased alcohol consumption during lockdown could lead to ‘second health crisis’, warn researchers’: Matt Mathers, The Independent, 16 April 2020

‘How Unhealthy Really Is It to Drink Alcohol Every Single Night?’: Catriona Harvey-Jenner, Women’s Health, June 2020

Covid 19: Alcohol’: Royal College of Psychiatrists website

‘Drinking during lockdown: headline findings’: Alcohol Change UK website

Alcohol and Coronavirus’: Drinkaware website

‘Facts about Alcohol’: Drinkaware website

‘Statistics on Alcohol, England 2020’: NHS Digital website

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