The pandemic changed all that.
Health Risks of Increased Drinking
The uptick in alcohol use has health implications.
Alcohol Trends During Year 1 of the Pandemic
Alcohol consumption increased 14% from 2019 to 2020.
Researchers wrote that there was a 41% increase in heavy drinking among women during the same time period.
The risk of damage to your health increases with each drink of alcohol consumed, Grossman said.
As people realized the pandemic was causing them to drink more, many reevaluated their relationship with alcohol.
I needed to really start focusing on my health and on creating good habits, Vatuone told Verywell.
I did my best to moderate and cut down to maybe one glass of wine at dinner.
Vatuone regularly shares TikToks about the ups-and-downs of sobrietyincluding the changes in howshe socializesand feels.
How Is the Industry Reacting?
Brands are meeting consumers where they are and leaning into the demand for non-alcoholic beverages.
The shift to non-alcoholic drinks is overall a good thing for peoples health.
Alcohol is the fourth leading preventable cause of death in the United States, she said.
Still, Vatuone is hopeful talking about not drinking can have ripple effects.
The choice to openly discuss her sobriety has helped other people reevaluate their relationship with alcohol, she said.
It was not her intention when she started, but the overwhelming reactions have been rewarding.
When I started talking about [my sobriety], I didnt know what I was doing.
I was just like, This is whats happening.
I wanted to be honest about it.
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Published online December 8, 2022. doi:10.1002/hep.32272
Burton R, Sheron N.No level of alcohol consumption improves health.Lancet.
2018;392(10152):987-988. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31571-X
