Changes in alcohol consumption associated with social distancing and self‐isolation policies triggered by COVID‐19 in South Australia: a wastewater analysis study
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Date
2021
Authors
Bade, R.
Simpson, B.S.
Ghetia, M.
Nguyen, L.
White, J.M.
Gerber, C.
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Addiction, 2021; 116(6):1600-1605
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Aim: To assess the effects of social distancing and social isolation policies triggered by COVID‐19 on alcohol consumption using wastewater analysis in Adelaide, South Australia. Design: Longitudinal quantitative analysis of influent wastewater data for alcohol concentration. Setting: Adelaide, South Australia. Participants: Wastewater catchment area representative of 1.1 million inhabitants.
Measurements: Twenty‐four‐hour composite influent wastewater samples were collected from four wastewater treatment plants in Adelaide, South Australia for seven consecutive days (Wednesday – Tuesday) every two months from April 2016 – April 2020. The alcohol metabolite ethyl sulfate was measured in samples using chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. Data were population‐weighted adjusted with consumption expressed as standard drinks/day/1000 people. Weekly consumption and weekend to mid‐week consumption ratios were analysed to identify changes in weekday alcohol use pattern.
Findings: Estimated weekend alcohol consumption was significantly lower (698 standard drinks/day/1000 people) after self‐isolation measures were enforced in April 2020 compared with the preceding sampling period in February 2020 (1047 standard drinks/day/1000 people), p<0.05. Weekend to midweek consumption ratio was 12% lower than the average ratio compared with all previous sampling periods. April 2020 recorded the lowest alcohol consumption relative to April in previous years, dating back to 2016.
Conclusions: Wastewater analysis suggests that introduction of social distancing and isolation policies triggered by COVID‐19 in Adelaide, South Australia, was associated with a decrease in population‐level weekend alcohol consumption.
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Copyright 2020 Society for the Study of Addiction. All rights reserved.
Access Condition Notes: Accepted manuscript available after 1 October 2021