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LAST UPDATE | 3 Jun 2020
MORE THAN 50% of Irish respondents to a global survey about drugs and alcohol use say they have seen an increase in the frequency of their drinking since the Covid-19 restrictions were implemented.
For the past number of years, TheJournal.ie has partnered with the Global Drug Survey to understand people’s relationship with controlled and uncontrolled substances.
The team behind this research has today published an special edition of this study on the impact the pandemic has had on the use of alcohol and drugs.
The interim report found that out of 2,200 Irish people who took part, 54% said the frequency of their drinking had increased by some capacity.
The survey was conducted online and people took part voluntarily, meaning those who responded likely took interest in the topics being examined.
32% said it had increased a little while 22% said it had increased a lot.
This was one of the highest levels of any country surveyed and higher than the global average of 44% who said they noticed an increase.
Most participants of the survey tended to be young, have experience with illicit drugs and employed or in education, the team behind the survey said.
The median age of those who took part in Ireland was 39.
In terms of how Irish people say they are coping with the pandemic and the related restrictions, nearly 52% of respondents said they were coping “really well” which is 2% above the global average.
45% of Irish people said they were coping with some things, but not others.
Alcohol use
Nearly one-third of people globally said the number of days they drink in an average week has increased “a little” since February, before Covid-19 restrictions were in place in most countries.
Overall, 44% of people reported an increase in the frequency of their drinking while 25.5% reported a decrease.
Ireland had the highest number of respondents who said their level of binge drinking had increased, with 38% of people saying it had either increased a little or a lot since February.
Binge drinking is in this instance described as consuming five or more drinks in one single setting.
In terms of the reasons people give for an increase in alcohol consumption, the most common answer was ‘I have more time to drink’ with 43% of people choosing this response.
One-quarter of people surveyed said they were drinking more due to anxieties and stress caused by what is going on at the moment.
Overall, 42% of participants said they would like to drink less alcohol in the next 30 days.
On the other side, two-thirds of people who have seen a decrease in their drinking said this was caused by having less contact with the people they usually drink with.
Government satisfaction rating
Irish people rated their satisfaction with the leadership of the country’s government during the pandemic at eight out of ten when asked in this survey.
The global average for this was seven. People surveyed in New Zealand had the highest median level of any country, with a rating of nine out of ten.
At nearly 90%, Ireland had the second highest number of people who said they had kept a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between themselves and those outside their household in the past 30 days to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
This is 12% higher than the global average. For self-isolation, however, Ireland was 2% below the global average as 44% of people said they had stayed at home to prevent the spread of the disease.
Illicit drug use
Ireland had the lowest rate of cannabis use, with 23% of those surveyed saying they had used it in the past year.
This compares to a high of 61% in Denmark and 58% in the Netherlands.
40% of people in Ireland who use cannabis products said they had increased their usage in some capacity, while 60% said it had stayed the same or decreased.
Ireland was among the top three users of benzodiazepines in the past 12 months, standing at 12% of those who responded to this survey.
The report on this survey said Covid-19 has had a “huge” impact on drug dealing and distribution.
“It seems that drug markets have been pretty robust and GDS predicts that following lockdown, many regions will be flooded by high purity drugs as dealers try to shift unsold stock and distribute stockpiles that had been prepared for the European summer,” it said.
Relationships
The survey also asked people about abusive relationships and changes to their relationships during the pandemic. It surveyed people in heterosexual and homosexual relationships.
In total, 18% of people said they had noticed more tension in their relationship since the pandemic.
Upwards of 15% of people said they had experienced abusive behaviours, with the highest rate of 20% seen in males with male partners.
45% of females with male partners who have experienced abusive behaviour from their partner in the last month said they had noticed an increase in threats from their partner to harm or kill them or someone close to them.
***
There is still time to take part in the full study.
The team behind the Global Drugs Survey believe in “honest conversations about alcohol and other drugs” and includes questions on whether the respondent’s alcohol and drug use has changed because of coronavirus and if those changes have had subsequent consequences.
There will also be questions about the drug market and access to services.
The survey is encrypted, all responses are anonymous and confidential and it doesn’t collect IP addresses.
The results of the full survey will be published on TheJournal.ie.
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I have been drinking more since the restrictions, but only because the weather has been good.
@Thunder Snowman: I’m drinking more cause I cant get my hands on a bit of green
@Damo: I was lucky I stocked up before the drought. I’m also lucky my job wasn’t effected. My drinking was average enough. Now it has come to pretty zero.
I won’t be going to pubs when they open either
@Damo: hate that…
People are the bored, the weather is good so we drink more. I’m sure most of us could’ve predicted this. Nothing wrong with a few beers in the garden within reason surely when we can’t even visit our friends or family.
@Paul O Connor: people are bored, so do something…. James Joyce was asked ‘What did he do during the First World War’ he replied ‘I wrote Ulysses” ….. I’ve just finished reading it….
@Paul O’Sullivan: did you have a drink while you where reading
@John Moloney: no see post below
@Paul O’Sullivan:
I walk about 100 kms a week. I’m reading more books also I’m not going to apologise for having a few beers on the weekend. I am doing something.
@Paul O Connor: here here!!! Sames mate. Walking,hiit, pilates yoga gardening and all with babas on me..imma have me some wine.
@Paul O’Sullivan:
He was clearly smoking too
I’m gone the opposite! Haven’t had a drink in god knows how long!
@Veronica: same here.strange isnt it.
@Veronica:I gaurentee you feel alot better because of it too…
@Veronica: Me too, haven’t drank since the middle of February. We were expecting a new baby in March, so I stayed off it in case of having to make a dash for the hospital. We were blessed with him on the 8th of March. Since he’s been born I’ve been more focused on looking after him than drinking, strange thing is I don’t miss it either. Seriously considering giving it up for good, hate the hangovers.
Drank like a fish the first week of lockdown. Haven’t touched a drop since and have no intention of doing so in the near future.
Lies! I always have Whiskey in my cereal.
@Ger: Baileys is nicer, it has milk in it
I’m drinking more to support our local off licence
Online, self selecting/self reporting survey. Isn’t this the kind of thing The Journal is usually debunking, Orla?
@Mike Finnegan: what an odd response. So you don’t believe a long standing international anonymous survey is giving an accurate picture? Everyone is telling fibs, is that what you’re telling us? What’s to debunk?
@Mike Finnegan: No, they’re usually debunking horseshite WhatsApp messages being sent around saying ‘My Nanny’s sister’s hairdresser’s dog was told for a FACT eating mozzarella sticks will cure Covid’.
Not a simple yes or no anonymous poll where people have no reason or incentive to lie.
@Mike Finnegan:Fair point. It’s still in progress – it will be interesting to see the complete stats.
Mind you, I wonder about the timing. During a pandemic lockdown that coincided with Lent? Bound to reflect an overall decrease, surely?
Its just not the same at home………
And the other half are lying
@hello: not necessarily. I barely drank before lockdown, and itsbeenno difference since lockdown.
I’ve drank less than the same period last year actually, as last year I was in lanzarote for a week. Had a couple of drinks most nights there.
Increase in domestic violence found in the survey, but it’s the booze that gets the headline.
@Logan Shepherd: they go together.
@Anthony Ryan Dunne: I think you missed the point
@Anthony Ryan Dunne: Alcohol is not always part of that problem. It is dismissive of many cases of domestic abuse to say it is.
@Logan Shepherd: maybe both are related, hmm
@Logan Shepherd: And it’s such a pity this headline has been reported in the likes of the Washington post. It does nothing for our national stereotype.
@Real Online Career: Alcohol may trigger an episode of domestic violence, it is not the cause though. Plus as per the article they are treated as 2 separate sections.
@NotMyIreland: You’re so right there. I think I’ve become immune to that stereotype over the years.
@Logan Shepherd: Worse again that the people affected reported an increase – as if to say that their life was worse than usual.
The publicans say there was 24 million less pints of beer & cider consumed in April?
@Locojoe: Eh… The pubs are closed so very little drinking pints. This is overall alcohol consumption
@Longlin: I was so confused there for a minute. Thanks for clearing that up.
@Locojoe: People who drank pints in pubs could be drinking wine at home
Shebeens popping up all over the gaf
I haven’t had s drink since March 13th the day before the goverment ordered the closure of all bars. I like a drink although I am not a home drinker, I like the socializing in a pub, the conversation and the atmosphere… I have it in my head that August 10th is the day of my next pint.
However, I may eat out for some pub grub and a few pints, i am not sure how the pub will be organising that do you have to leave once your finished eating or can you stay and continue drinking?
@Paul O’Sullivan: * that’s in reference to pubs opening as restaurants.
@Paul O’Sullivan: I don’t know the answer to your question but want to ask you one. Do you really believe that social distancing will work in pubs, when they open?
@Logan Shepherd: No I do not think social distancing will work, especially in the bars I drink in….
I suppose pubs will have to have people quotas per sqaure metres of the pub. That will probably result in the pub not being worth opening as the overheads of a pub will mean it wont be worth opening, they will probably have to man doors with a people counter. It will cost too much to run the pub for the profits that will be returned… if a measure like that is introduced the cost of a pint will get very expensive as you have to calculate overheads, tax vat etc weigh against the price of your product the price would go through the roof.
@Paul O’Sullivan: My thinking as well. I actually don’t think there will be the will on the part of the publican, to go to great lengths to enforce it. Mainly people go to the pub to socialise. I don’t see that dynamic changing.
@Logan Shepherd: I appreciate your question is directed at Paul but please allow me my 10 cents: I think it will be imposed very strictly with a heavy security presence ensuring adherence – no more than 6 to a table, no standing at the bar or mingling with other groups.
It will remove the fun and the social element that the likes of Paul and myself go to the pub for. The upshot being that we won’t visit again and will find alternatives.
It will also destroy the tourist element who visit the pub for the ‘Irish experience’.
@Charles Alexander: you raise an interesting point, there is the possibility of some pubs being private members only , whether that would work I do not know and whether I want to exchange a sum of money to drink exclusively in a bar would be another thing. Also I do think the price of the pint could get quite high under new restrictive measures . A pub landlord in Manchester was saying in The Manchester Evening News that the cost of a pnt could be £10 sterling there, with social distancing measures so, what would it be here in Ireland… we pay staff more, insurance is relatively bigher, taxation is higher could be €20 euro a pint ??? We just dont know…
@Charles Alexander: All are welcome in my world Charles. I’m not a regular pub goer myself, and when I do go, like yourselves it’s for a social night out with friends. I’m with Paul on the extra costs of enforcing social distancing. The will may be there at the start, but as losses accumulate I think it will change. Some pubs serve underage and overly drunk people. They also have lockins. Often done just to keep the business going. Unless we see clusters associated with pubs, I think they may be one of the first businesses to return to normal. Of course this is just an opinion.
@Paul O’Sullivan: It’s possible to flip the whole thing around as well. Many people I’m sure go to the pub, simply because it has become a habit. Maybe it will change the way we socialise.
@Logan Shepherd: The Irish Pub experience is a huge sell to over seas tourists..Social distancing could put an end to that. The Irish Music experience in the Pub is on hold as well so its looks like the whole social aspect to the pub could sadly be deflated..I hope not
@Barrsball Rebel: Good points as well. I think this is going to be an interesting one to watch unfold.
@Paul O’Sullivan: my local has now stopped draught beer all together now for the reopen. It will be restaurant / pub food and bottles of beer from 11am to 9pm. No food = no beer. It’s going to be a culture shock, but the profit of draught beer with social distance drinking is not viable.
@Logan Shepherd: Paul O’Sullivan:
table service will require more staff on both sides of the bar. There will be further costs which will lead to an increase in the cost of a pint – Paul, you mention €20 – even at €10, a night out loses it’s appeal and at €20 the pub becomes a thing of the past with the supermarket being the winner.
The demand of a reduction in social distancing to 1m means more custom and more alcohol however, enforcement becomes more problematic bordering on impossible.
There is also the issue of insurance liability: whilst it may sound a little far fetched, pubs may ask you to sign a declaration on entering the premises exempting the pub from liability in the event of infection.
The pub, in it’s new guise, may have lost it’s appeal and could become a thing of the past.
@Paul Somers: huh? The profit margin of draught is much better than bottles. Are you sure you about that?
Adapt and overcome.
This is the start of the anti alcohol part of the lockdown. How long before we have calls to ban alcohol sales in shops.
@Ed: They need to dig out some event when a drunk guy transmitted the virus and the church of Covid would be all in.
@Ed: Is it not an annual survey? Averages out. No one’s said that we all should be 39 either.
The other half are being less than honest
@rodgerw@eircom.net: so,you dont believe there is anyone in this country that might be drinking less than normal?
I for one certainly am,and I barely drink as it is. I’ve actually a can in the fridge that has been there since the saturday after the schools closed. I’ve had7 drinks since the schools closed, and all were in a glass the size of a small nutella jar.
@rodgerw@eircom.net: What difference would it make? Each to their own.
I found i did at the start. Then realised the weekend cans were starting on Wednesday after a while. Trying to leave it to once a fortnight now. Hard with the aul spells of cans out the back garden weather, though.
It’s a novelty that soon wears off.
The other half were too hungover to answer the survey
Solo drinking is boring. Going to wait until I can see friends & family again,
Bah…. I just drink as I always did…. a glass of wine during lunch, one perhaps two during dinner…. I don’t really see the difference or the problem.
Well, tbh, I had time and opportunity to enjoy more different home cooking plates, so different drink comes along, obviously….
✔️Pubs In Ireland to only reopen on Weekends to improve people’s health and pocket✔️
Sign the petition please if you agree at http://chng.it/PW9vPxtY
@Real Online Career: I dont think that will be sustainable, from a business standpoint. No business owner would agree to those terms. Anyway, isnt it about the right to choose? some people prefer a quiet drink after work on a weeknight, some people prefer the bustle of the weekend. Not everyone goes to the pub to get hammered.
350€ a week has something to do with sure of it
didn’t drink any alcohol this year yet..but I’m also not irish
It’s well for some.
I’ve been too busy working
And the other half are not telling the truth!!
The other half must not have voted
have your say