Alcohol consumption is on the rise
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism indicates there are three levels of drinking, two of which are problematic.
The Tuscarawas County Anti-Drug Coalition is bringing attention to a drastic uptick in alcohol consumption amid ongoing stressors related to COVID-19.
According to statistics recently released by Nielsen, alcohol sales have skyrocketed when compared to this time last year.
U.S. alcohol sales increased 55 percent; beer sales increased 42 percent; wine sales increased 66 percent; spirits sales such as tequila, gin and premixed cocktails increased 75 percent; and online alcohol sales increased 243 percent.
Prevention Action Alliance reports alcohol seems to have become the go-to coping strategy for far too many, and it’s being further normalized through social media.
“We all recognize that the world has changed drastically due to COVID-19, but it is important that we continue to make healthy choices and lead by example for our children,” ADC coordinator Jodi Salvo said. “With everyone at home during this time, our kids are paying more attention and are more easily influenced by the decisions we make as parents and caregivers than ever before.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, drinking too much alcohol on a single occasion or over a period of time can cause significant health problems including weakened immune system.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism indicates there are three levels of drinking, the later two of which are problematic:
Moderate drinking: one drink per day for women of legal drinking age and up to two drinks per day for men of legal drinking age.
Binge drinking: four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men — consumed within about one hour or a pattern of drinking that brings blood-alcohol concentration to 0.08 percent or higher.
Heavy alcohol use: four drinks or more on any day for men or more than three drinks for women.
The ADC encourages community members to seek out healthy coping mechanisms such as taking a walk outdoors, meditating, and reaching out to friends and family via phone and video calls.
For more information about the local work of the ADC, visit www.adctusc.org.