Drinking patterns, drinking-at-risk, and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic in eight European countries
RESEARCH AIMS: To describe alcohol consumption and preferences among both drinkers, and high-risk drinkers; to compare consumption before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic across eight European countries.
METHOD: Secondary analysis of a dataset from 24 946 respondents 18-90 years old from eight European countries who reported having drunk any alcoholic beverages during the week prior to the online interview (October-November 2022).
RESULTS: Weekly alcohol consumption across countries was between 123.6 and 197.2 grams of pure alcohol per person, with a male/female ratio between 1.1:1 and 1.5:1. Traditional wine-drinking pattern was confirmed for France, Italy, and Greece, as well as for Great Britain. Prevalence of high-risk drinkers (daily consumption >30 grams for females, >40 grams for males) was highest in Great Britain; M/F ratio was between 1.1:1 and 1.3:1, except in Belgium, Great Britain, and Greece, where females outnumbered males. Those older than 65 years and those who resided in the countryside were less likely to be high-risk drinkers. Most respondents reported drinking the same amount of wine and beer in 2022 as before the COVID-19 outbreak, with high-risk drinkers increasing their drinking frequency of all types of alcoholic beverages.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm a downward trend in alcohol consumption in most European countries. The gender gap between male and female high-risk drinkers is narrowing or, in some cases, reversing. In 2022, compared with before the COVID-19 outbreak, the majority of respondents reported drinking the same amount of alcoholic beverages, whereas high-risk drinkers increased the frequency of their drinking.
Additional Info
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Authors
Allamani A.; Pacifici M.; Kraus L.; Decorte T.; Estruch R.; Lamuela-Raventos R.; Mellos E.; Moreau C.; Pajak A.; Thom B.; Gordon D.; Olivadoti S.; Voller F. -
Issue
Periodical: Alcohol Alcohol - Volume: 61 - Number: 2 -
Published Date
14 january 2026
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