We’re drinking extra bottle of wine a week in lockdown
(Is stressed) that ALL, mums and dads ask!
SCOTS have been drinking an extra bottle of wine a week during lockdown – sparking fears of a health timebomb.
During the first stay-at-home restrictions last year, people bought 60 per cent more alcohol than usual, figures show.
For men, who would normally drink 16 units of booze a week on average, consumption rose to around 26 units – the equivalent of an extra bottle of wine or four to five cans of beer.
Women, who typically drink just under nine units a week, consumed up to 15 units.
But campaigners fear the statistics – comparing weekly alcohol consumption last year to the same period in 2019 – could mask a more serious problem.
Their polling suggests that, while a third of Scots increased their alcohol intake during lockdown, a third of Scots also cut down – sparking fears that those who have been drinking more have been consuming a lot more.
Alison Douglas, of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: ‘Worryingly, those that had increased tended to be those who were already drinking more heavily. Frontline organisations are reporting increases in demand for support from those worried about their own drinking and those concerned about a family member or friend’s drinking.’
The figures are included in a new Food Standards Scotland report. It shows that from late March, Scots bought up to 60 per cent more alcohol from retailers each week.
Total food and drink sales also increased, but only at a fraction of the rate of alcohol.
Most weeks, the increase was far more than would usually have been bought in pubs and restaurants, which were closed due to lockdown.
Ms Douglas said: ‘It has not been an easy year and many of us have been drinking more due to the loss of routine, added stress and anxiety, as well as social isolation.
‘Unfortunately, drinking can disrupt our sleep and increase our levels of anxiety. Over time this can lead to depression. If these patterns of drinking persist they can lead to more severe health problems, such as liver disease, strokes and a range of cancers, including bowel and breast.
‘Alcohol services, which were already hard-pressed before this crisis, may experience even greater demand after it.
‘We need to be thinking now about how we ensure that services are equipped to deal with this.’
The SNP introduced minimum unit pricing, of 50p per unit of alcohol, to try to tackle problem drinking of cheap booze bought in shops.
Scotland has historically had a far greater problem with alcohol than all other parts of the UK.
In 2018 there were 29.4 deaths per 100,000 people linked to alcohol in Scotland – almost double the rate seen in England.
The Scottish Government insists it is looking at measures to further cut problem drinking. A spokesman said: ‘We are taking a range of actions to address Scotland’s problematic relationship with alcohol, including consulting on potential restrictions on alcohol advertising and improving health information on product labels.
‘Our world-leading approach to the minimum unit pricing of alcohol is having an impact, with an associated net reduction in off-trade alcohol sales per adult in its first year.
‘In 2019 there were 10 per cent fewer alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland than the previous year.
‘Keeping track of our drinking is even more important than usual during these difficult times.
‘The UK chief medical officers recommend we don’t drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread over at least three days.’
‘Many drinking more due to the loss of routine’