There has been an increase in the number of higher risk drinkers, and the heaviest drinkers have increased their consumption the most, which brings a risk of more alcohol-related health problems. Changes in alcohol consumption have continued beyond the national lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.

There was a 20% increase in alcohol-specific deaths in England in 2020 compared with 2019, and this trend persisted through 2021. There have also been changes in healthcare access during the pandemic, which could mean other aspects of alcohol harm worsen but become less visible. The long-term indirect effect of the pandemic on alcohol harm is unknown.