Yaqubi, Hadia;
May, Tom;
Burton, Alexandra;
(2025)
A qualitative exploration of triggers for alcohol use and access to support during the COVID-19 pandemic among people identifying as problem drinkers in the United Kingdom.
Drug and Alcohol Review
10.1111/dar.14013.
(In press).
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Abstract
Introduction: A polarisation of drinking behaviour was observed during the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic, with some people reported to be drinking more alcohol and others less. We aimed to understand how and why the COVID‐19 pandemic and associated restrictions impacted alcohol use and access to support and services during this time. / Methods: We conducted semi‐structured qualitative interviews with 27 participants, including 20 people identifying as problem drinkers and seven alcohol service providers. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. / Results: We identified two main triggers for alcohol use during the pandemic: (i) loss of daily routine and activity resulted in drinking to cope with social isolation and boredom; and (ii) drinking alleviated feelings of fear, anxiety and anger over the imposition of pandemic restrictions. Regarding access to services, two main themes were generated: (i) remote service provision was perceived as inferior to in‐person services; and (ii) the need to offer choice and flexibility in how services were provided, with service providers reporting more positive experiences of online and telephone service delivery than service users. / Discussion and Conclusions: This study provides new insights into potential triggers for alcohol use among people identifying as problem drinkers during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The acceptability of remote forms of service provision were dependent on service user access to, and comfort with using technology. Hybrid delivery models may therefore be suitable in some but not all circumstances, and efforts should be made to promote equitable access to services.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | A qualitative exploration of triggers for alcohol use and access to support during the COVID-19 pandemic among people identifying as problem drinkers in the United Kingdom |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1111/dar.14013 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.14013 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Drug and Alcohol Review published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Keywords: | alcohol drinking, COVID-19, qualitative research |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health > Behavioural Science and Health |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10204928 |
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