Using alcohol to cope with coronavirus lockdown is exposing our class divides

Alcohol is the most accessible that we can self-medicate with, and repeat prescriptions are always available. But now detox is only available to those who can afford it

Now that we are a month into lockdown, it’s becoming clearer how some of us are getting through this pandemic. Some interesting differences are emerging, particularly in our use of alcohol to cope. Two distinct groups have formed: those who are moderating their intake of alcohol, and those who are drinking significantly more.

A new survey commissioned by Alcohol Change UK reveals that one in three (35 per cent) of us who drink report drinking less or have adopted a "dry Covid-19". These are likely to be people who view the virus and the period of lockdown as an opportunity to enhance their health and personal development, by learning to play a new instrument or language, say, and by moderating their alcohol intake. Contrast this with the one in five (21 per cent) drinkers who report increasing their consumption since lockdown began. Already drinking every day prior to the coronavirus restrictions, these people now report adding to the amount of alcohol they consume. They are alrady deemed at risk of developing alcohol dependence and issues associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption, such as cancer or heart problems. By drinking even more, that risk is amplified.

Covid-19 hasn’t removed inequalities in our society; it has exaggerated them. As with so many aspects of health, there is a class divide in the impact that alcohol has. While access to alcohol is classless, as it is relatively affordable to most, the results of drinking depend on where you are in social hierarchy.

Those with the least tend to fair worse than those who are more affluent, even when they drinking the same amount. It is not just the amount of alcohol that matters but the impact it has. If you have a limited income then spending on alcohol can compromise how much you are able to spend on food or other basics, areas unlikely to be adversely impacted for those with more money.

Its easier to control your drinking or have a "dry Covid" if you are in employment, have somewhere secure to live and are physically or virtually supported by family and friends. Although we will all be experiencing some stress and anxiety due to lockdown, we are better equipped to deal with this if other aspects of our life feel stable and we have hope. Alcohol is a very effective short-term way of distancing yourself from the worries and uncertainty that many are feeling and have little control over. Alcohol is the most accessible and cheapest drug that we can self-medicate with; there are no appointments or invasive assessments and repeat prescriptions are always available.

All the social and health components are in place to widen inequality between rich and poor. while hospital bed capacity is the focus of government and, as the chancellor promised the NHS will have all the resources it needs, the same cannot be said for help with problems due to alcohol. These services experienced a disproportionate and savage cut to their budgets in the name of austerity. They were unable to offer support to the number of people requiring help pre-coronavirus, never mind the surge in demand they are experiencing now. But that won’t be an obstacle to those with means who wouldn’t seek support from state-funded specialist alcohol treatment, preferring the anonymity and tailored experience that the private sector offers.

The immediate harm of this increase in drinking is being felt acutely by children and partners of those who drink heavily, an estimated 3.5 million family members are feeling the tension and conflict as a result. This will include domestic violence which the home secretary has already acknowledged and pledged additional funding to tackle. Unfortunately, this is a time when money alone won’t be the solution, escaping abuse is challenging during a time of isolation, school closure and employment furlough reduce the options for a safe escape route.

Its an uncomfortable truth that our favourite drug is the underlying cause of misery, violence and lives cut short. Yet our government remains silent on this issue, no doubt viewing alcohol consumption as a matter of choice and liberty, an ideology that an increasing number of children, partners and individuals will be paying a heavy price for.

Ian Hamilton lectures in mental health at the Department of Health Sciences, University of York