Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring gender differences and the role of emotional distress

Introduction: Restrictions to do with the COVID-19 pandemic have had substantial unintended consequences on Canadians’ alcohol consumption patterns, including increased emotional distress and its potential impact on alcohol use. This study examines 1) changes in adults’ alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; 2) whether drinking more frequently during the pandemic is associated with increased feelings of stress, loneliness and hopelessness; and 3) whether gender moderates this relationship. Methods: Participants were drawn from a cross-sectional survey of 2000 adults. Adjusted multinomial regression models were used to assess the association between drinking frequency and increased feelings of stress, loneliness and hopelessness. Additional analyses were stratified by gender. Results: About 12% of respondents reported drinking more frequently after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and 25%–40% reported increased emotional distress. Increased feelings of stress (odds ratio [OR] = 1.99; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35–2.93), loneliness (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.22–2.61) and hopelessness (OR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.21–3.23) were all associated with drinking more frequently during the pandemic. While women respondents reported higher rates of emotional distress, significant associations with increased drinking frequency were only observed among men in gender-stratified analyses. Conclusion: Individuals who report increased feelings of stress, loneliness and hopelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to report increased drinking frequency; however, these associations were only significant for men in stratified analyses. Understanding how the pandemic is associated with mental health and drinking may inform alcohol control policies and public health interventions to minimize alcohol-related harm.