Corona and alcohol: what are the effects of the crisis?

Lisa Vogel studied departmental journalism with a focus on medicine and biosciences at Ansbach University and deepened her journalistic knowledge in the master's degree in multimedia information and communication. This was followed by a traineeship in the editorial team. Since September 2020 she has been writing as a freelance journalist for

More posts by Lisa Vogel All content is checked by medical journalists.

The crisis is far from over: bars and pubs are still closed in many places. As a result, many people drink alcohol more often at home and some more. Are more people currently drifting into addiction? And how are those who are already addicted?

"The Corona crisis definitely contributes to the fact that the drinking behavior of some people has changed," says Stefan Fischer in an interview with The addiction therapist heads the Blue Cross counseling center in Munich. The organization helps addicts to find a way out of addiction. In the past few weeks, more and more calls have been received from those affected.

Drink more in the crisis?

But the crisis also affects those who have not yet manifested an addiction disorder. For example, those who drink two or three beers after work after work to relax are now at risk - and often have no idea that this drinking behavior is already risky.

"In the home office or without social control, people may start earlier in the day," says Fischer. The corona crisis can then serve as a kind of catalyst and intensify drinking - up to addiction. "This mainly affects people who tend to drink alone or even in secret."

Consumption is shifting to one's own home

Because consumption moves into one's own home, conflicts in the partnership and family can break out. "Regular or excessive consumption is more likely to catch the eye of partners or roommates," says the addiction therapist.

This, in turn, can help make the addiction visible for the first time. If the relatives speak to the person concerned about it, the waves can hit: from denial to defiance and anger to despair.

A third more wine and beer

It is unclear whether people actually drink more overall. Compared to the previous year, the Germans did not only hoard more toilet paper - from the end of February to the end of March 2020 they also bought 34 percent more wine, 11.5 percent more beer, 31 percent more schnapps and even 87.1 percent more mixed alcoholic drinks. But you have to count against all the alcohol that otherwise flows in restaurants and bars.

If you don't drink alone, you drink less

In fact, the corona crisis also has an opposite effect on alcohol consumption for some, says Fischer. Those who only drink in company automatically consume less during the months of being blocked from contact and being isolated. "Anyone who only consumed too much in the local pub or in the club with friends had no more opportunity to do so at the moment."

Isolation, insecurity, and fears encourage addictive behavior

Stefan Fischer knows that people who are already suffering from addictions are particularly at risk in the Corona crisis. This applies to both those who still drink and people who have already found their way to abstinence - and who are now threatened with relapse. "Some work in the home office, others may be completely alone - social control simply falls away," says the addiction therapist.

Boredom and the loss of daily structure can also contribute to an existing addiction worsening during a crisis.

In such exceptional situations, abstainers increase the risk of relapse: insecurity, fears and worries can trigger so-called addictive pressure - a strong desire to drink something that can attack even long-term abstainers and make them weak.

Recognize addiction

But where is the line between enjoyable drinking, risky consumption and addiction? You can't tell from the crowd alone. Depending on gender, genetic predisposition and drinking habits, a different amount can at some point be “too much”.

Because alcohol addiction creeps up over the years. Regular consumption has a destructive effect on the body, psyche and behavior of the person concerned. Negative consequences are physical illness, loss of social relationships, neglect of other interests, loss of jobs.

If three of the following characteristics appear within a year, an addiction is present:

Strong desire and / or compulsion to consume the addictive substance
Reduced ability to control the start, amount and / or end of consumption
Physical withdrawal symptoms
Development of tolerance towards the addictive substance or increase in dose
Increased expenditure of time to procure the addictive substance or to recover from the consequences of its use, combined with the neglect of other interests
Continuation of consumption despite social, psychological or consequential damage

Help also in the Corona crisis

If you notice in yourself or someone close to you that your alcohol consumption is borderline or could already have gotten out of control, you can contact addiction counseling centers anonymously and without obligation. An overview of organizations, associations and self-help offers can be found in the article "Addiction - Help and addresses".

The Blue Cross can also still be reached during the entire Corona crisis. “Despite the restrictions, we kept in contact with our clients - by phone or virtually,” says Stefan Fischer.

Increased virtual offers

The corona crisis has meant that the advisory service is also available on other channels. This may well have a future: especially for rural regions where the next advice center or self-help group is further away, virtual discussions and therapy sessions are a good option.

In the meantime, Stefan Fischer's advice center in Munich has reopened - subject to hygiene regulations, of course. His offer: “If someone needs help of any kind, he can contact us by phone. Then we'll see how we can best help them. "

Blue Cross: 049 202 62003-0 (https://www.blaues-kreuz.de/de/wege-aus-der-sucht/)

BZgA - info phone for addiction prevention: 0221 - 89 20 31 (Mon - Thu, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Fri - Sun, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (https://www.bzga.de/service/infotelefone/suchtvorbeugung/)

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