Associations between adherence to public health measures and changes in alcohol consumption among middle-aged and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures (PHMs) potentially affected alcohol consumption. Our objectives were to evaluate if adherence to PHMs was associated with changes in alcohol consumption and binge drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted with participants (50-96 years) in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (N = 23 615). Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were estimated from multinomial logistic regression models for associations between PHM adherence (self-quarantine, attending public gatherings, leaving home, mask wearing and handwashing) and self-reported changes in alcohol consumption during the first year of the pandemic and prospectively measured changes in alcohol consumption frequency and frequency of binge-drinking events from 2015-2018 to 2020. RESULTS: During the first year of the pandemic, 13% (n = 2733) of participants self-reported increased alcohol consumption, while 13% (n = 2921) self-reported decreased consumption. Prospective measures suggested 19.1% (n = 4421) increased and 34.5% (n = 7971) decreased consumption frequency, while 12.9% (n = 1427) increased and 17.6% (n = 1953) decreased frequency of binge-drinking events. High PHM adherence, compared to low, was associated with higher odds of decreased alcohol consumption frequency (aOR = 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.30). No associations were observed between PHM adherence and self-reported change in alcohol consumption or frequency of binge-drinking events. Associations were consistent across socioeconomic groups. CONCLUSION: PHM adherence was associated with decreased, and not increased, frequency of alcohol consumption by adults aged 50-96 years in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.