Beverage- and context-specific alcohol consumption during COVID-19 in the United States: The role of alcohol to-go and delivery purchases

Abstract

Background: Alcohol delivery and to-go sales may contribute to changes in drinking patterns, including where and what people drink. This study tested whether home delivery and to-go alcohol purchases were associated with context- and beverage-specific consumption volumes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic after adjusting for pre-pandemic consumption volumes. Methods: Data are from a pre-pandemic panel were compared to a during-pandemic panel of the National Alcohol Survey (n=1,150 adult drinkers, 52.7% female). Outcomes were past-year alcohol consumption volumes in standard drinks (overall, by beverage type, and by location). Independent variables included past-year alcohol delivery and to-go purchases (separately). Covariates comprised baseline beverage- or context-specific volume, demographics, COVID-19 impacts, and drinking motivations. Negative binomial regression tested associations between alcohol purchases and change in overall, beverage-, and context-specific consumption. Results: On average, respondents who had alcohol delivered (vs. not) reported consuming larger volumes overall (IRR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.32, p=0.02), of wine (IRR=2.90, 95% CI: 1.50, 5.63, p<0.01), of spirits (IRR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.44, p=0.04), and at home (IRR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.31, p=0.01). People who bought alcohol to-go (vs. not) reported larger volumes of wine (IRR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.96, p=0.04), at home (IRR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.32, p=0.01) and in bars (IRR=4.55, 95% CI: 2.55, 8.11, p<0.001). Finally, people who had alcohol delivered reported drinking smaller volumes in bars (IRR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.98, p=0.04). Conclusions: During the first year of the pandemic, adults who had alcohol delivered or bought it to go reported larger volumes for several locations and beverage types.

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