Effects of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Alcohol Consumption, Hangovers and Smoking Among Young Adults (n = 140) in Germany: An On-Line Study

Agnese Merlo; Anna H Koyun; Pauline A Hendriksen; Johan Garssen; Gillian Bruce; Ann-Kathrin Stock; Joris C Verster

doi:10.1002/hup.70000

Effects of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Alcohol Consumption, Hangovers and Smoking Among Young Adults (n = 140) in Germany: An On-Line Study

Agnese Merlo, Anna H Koyun, Pauline A Hendriksen, Johan Garssen, Gillian Bruce, Ann-Kathrin Stock, Joris C Verster

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the impact of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdowns on alcohol consumption and smoking behavior among young adults from Germany.

METHODS: An online survey was completed by N = 317 young adults living in Germany. Of these, 140 (44.2%) consumed alcohol and were included in the analysis. They reported on alcohol consumption, hangover frequency and severity, and smoking behavior across four time periods: (1) "BP" (the period before the COVID-19 pandemic), (2) "L1" (the first lockdown; March-May, 2020), (3), NL1 (the no lock-down period; summer 2020), and (4) L2 (the second lockdown, November 2020 to May 2021).

RESULTS: During L1, a significant decrease was observed in weekly alcohol intake, the number of drinking days, and the number of days where more than eight alcoholic drinks were consumed. Whereas hangover frequency was significantly increased during L1, hangover severity was significantly reduced. During NL1, drinking behaviors returned to BP levels. During L2, the decrease in alcohol consumption was much smaller, and not significantly different from BP. However, compared to BP, during L2 hangover frequency was significantly increased and hangover severity was significantly reduced. With regards to smoking, no significant differences compared to BP were found.

CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 lockdown periods in Germany, a significant decrease in alcohol consumption was observed among this group of young adults. Whereas hangover frequency was significantly increased during the lockdown periods, hangover severity was significantly reduced.

Original language	English
Article number	e70000
Journal	Human Psychopharmacology
Volume	40
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.70000
Publication status	Published - Mar 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Funding

Over the past 3 years, J.C.V. has acted as a consultant for Eisai, KNMP, Med Solutions, Mozand, Red Bull, Sen\u2010Jam Pharmaceutical, and Toast! J.G. is a part\u2010time employee of Nutricia Research and has received research grants from Nutricia research foundation, Top Institute Pharma, Top Institute Food and Nutrition, GSK, STW, NWO, Friesland Campina, CCC, Raak\u2010Pro, and EU. The other authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Funders	Funder number
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Top Institute Pharma
Nutricia Research
European Commission
Stichting voor de Technische Wetenschappen
Nutricia Research Foundation
GlaxoSmithKline
Top Institute Food and Nutrition
Crohn's and Colitis Canada
Friesland Campina

Keywords

COVID-19
alcohol
hangover
lockdown
smoking
tobacco

Access to Document

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Human Psychopharmacology - 2025 - Merlo - Effects of COVID‐19 Lockdowns on Alcohol Consumption Hangovers and Smoking AmongFinal published version, 587 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Effects of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Alcohol Consumption, Hangovers and Smoking Among Young Adults (n = 140) in Germany: An On-Line Study",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the impact of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdowns on alcohol consumption and smoking behavior among young adults from Germany.METHODS: An online survey was completed by N = 317 young adults living in Germany. Of these, 140 (44.2%) consumed alcohol and were included in the analysis. They reported on alcohol consumption, hangover frequency and severity, and smoking behavior across four time periods: (1) {"}BP{"} (the period before the COVID-19 pandemic), (2) {"}L1{"} (the first lockdown; March-May, 2020), (3), NL1 (the no lock-down period; summer 2020), and (4) L2 (the second lockdown, November 2020 to May 2021).RESULTS: During L1, a significant decrease was observed in weekly alcohol intake, the number of drinking days, and the number of days where more than eight alcoholic drinks were consumed. Whereas hangover frequency was significantly increased during L1, hangover severity was significantly reduced. During NL1, drinking behaviors returned to BP levels. During L2, the decrease in alcohol consumption was much smaller, and not significantly different from BP. However, compared to BP, during L2 hangover frequency was significantly increased and hangover severity was significantly reduced. With regards to smoking, no significant differences compared to BP were found.CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 lockdown periods in Germany, a significant decrease in alcohol consumption was observed among this group of young adults. Whereas hangover frequency was significantly increased during the lockdown periods, hangover severity was significantly reduced.",

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author = "Agnese Merlo and Koyun, {Anna H} and Hendriksen, {Pauline A} and Johan Garssen and Gillian Bruce and Ann-Kathrin Stock and Verster, {Joris C}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",

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T1 - Effects of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Alcohol Consumption, Hangovers and Smoking Among Young Adults (n = 140) in Germany

T2 - An On-Line Study

AU - Merlo, Agnese

AU - Koyun, Anna H

AU - Hendriksen, Pauline A

AU - Garssen, Johan

AU - Bruce, Gillian

AU - Stock, Ann-Kathrin

AU - Verster, Joris C

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N2 - OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the impact of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdowns on alcohol consumption and smoking behavior among young adults from Germany.METHODS: An online survey was completed by N = 317 young adults living in Germany. Of these, 140 (44.2%) consumed alcohol and were included in the analysis. They reported on alcohol consumption, hangover frequency and severity, and smoking behavior across four time periods: (1) "BP" (the period before the COVID-19 pandemic), (2) "L1" (the first lockdown; March-May, 2020), (3), NL1 (the no lock-down period; summer 2020), and (4) L2 (the second lockdown, November 2020 to May 2021).RESULTS: During L1, a significant decrease was observed in weekly alcohol intake, the number of drinking days, and the number of days where more than eight alcoholic drinks were consumed. Whereas hangover frequency was significantly increased during L1, hangover severity was significantly reduced. During NL1, drinking behaviors returned to BP levels. During L2, the decrease in alcohol consumption was much smaller, and not significantly different from BP. However, compared to BP, during L2 hangover frequency was significantly increased and hangover severity was significantly reduced. With regards to smoking, no significant differences compared to BP were found.CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 lockdown periods in Germany, a significant decrease in alcohol consumption was observed among this group of young adults. Whereas hangover frequency was significantly increased during the lockdown periods, hangover severity was significantly reduced.

AB - OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the impact of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdowns on alcohol consumption and smoking behavior among young adults from Germany.METHODS: An online survey was completed by N = 317 young adults living in Germany. Of these, 140 (44.2%) consumed alcohol and were included in the analysis. They reported on alcohol consumption, hangover frequency and severity, and smoking behavior across four time periods: (1) "BP" (the period before the COVID-19 pandemic), (2) "L1" (the first lockdown; March-May, 2020), (3), NL1 (the no lock-down period; summer 2020), and (4) L2 (the second lockdown, November 2020 to May 2021).RESULTS: During L1, a significant decrease was observed in weekly alcohol intake, the number of drinking days, and the number of days where more than eight alcoholic drinks were consumed. Whereas hangover frequency was significantly increased during L1, hangover severity was significantly reduced. During NL1, drinking behaviors returned to BP levels. During L2, the decrease in alcohol consumption was much smaller, and not significantly different from BP. However, compared to BP, during L2 hangover frequency was significantly increased and hangover severity was significantly reduced. With regards to smoking, no significant differences compared to BP were found.CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 lockdown periods in Germany, a significant decrease in alcohol consumption was observed among this group of young adults. Whereas hangover frequency was significantly increased during the lockdown periods, hangover severity was significantly reduced.

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