The fourth round of the Social Impact of COVID-19 Survey was undertaken to measure the impact COVID-19 has had on Irish society in November 2020. This survey was carried out between Thursday 12 November and Wednesday 18 November and was based on a sample of 5,105 persons aged 18 years and over. The survey utilised an online electronic questionnaire to produce a final achieved sample size of 1,585 individuals. 

Lifestyle chapter: In April 2020, approximately five weeks after COVID-19 restrictions had been introduced, survey respondents were asked how, if at all, their consumption of alcohol, tobacco and junk food and sweets had changed since these COVID-19 restrictions were introduced.  These questions were repeated in the November survey,

For each consumption item (alcohol, tobacco and junk food and sweets) respondents could answer “Increased”, “Decreased”, “No change” and could also indicate that they did not partake in the behaviour.  Please note that respondents of the Social Impact of COVID-19 survey were all aged 18 years and over.  Results outlined below are limited to those that partake in the behaviour.

The proportion of respondents reporting that their alcohol consumption was higher than before the COVID-19 crisis remained relatively unchanged between April and November (22.2% and 21.1% respectively). However, more than one in four (26.8%) of November respondents reported that they had Decreased alcohol consumption compared with approximately one in six (17.2%) respondents in April.  See Table 4.6 and Figure 4.7.