Drinkers take mixed approaches to consumption of alcohol in lockdown

Drinkers in Scotland have changed their alcohol consumption in equal measure during the lockdown, with an estimated one million people drinking more often and the same number cutting down or stopping completely.

A new poll carried out during the coronavirus lockdown found 29 per cent of Scots who drink are doing so more regularly, while 29 per cent said they are drinking less often.

In terms of the amount of alcohol people are drinking, almost half (48 per cent) said their consumption has not changed, 19 per cent said they are drinking more than before the lockdown, 20 percenthavecutdownand a further 13 per cent have stopped altogether.

The findings of the online survey of 576 Scottish adults, carried out by Opinium and commissioned by health charities Alcohol Focus Scotland and Alcohol Change UK, suggest people who were drinking the least before lockdown are cutting back more than heavier drinkers.

Half of respondents who rarely drank before the coronavirus pandemic once a month or less - have cut down or stopped drinking completely, compared to 19 per cent of those who drank more than three times a week.

Meanwhile, 29 per cent of people who drank four or moretimesaweekbeforelockdown have further increased the amount they drink.

Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: “Many people drink alcohol to relax, forget their problems and combat feelings of stress but as many people are seeing, it’s not always the best coping mechanism.

“As well as affecting our sleep, drinking alcohol can make it more difficult to manage our negative thoughts and feelings and increase our levels of anxiety.”