The generalization made by many was dangerous. Many were fighting to save their business and were forced to fight harder than ever before. COVID-19 spikes are back, which means that their fight continues. This is not practical when you’re constantly drunk. Frontline workers could not indulge in excess, but they would have good reason to find a coping method. Was the rest of society in an alcohol haze?
In the early months of the outbreak, the public was encouraged to stay inside or at least be as indoors as possible. However, the pleasant weather in late March and April made this difficult. The Coronavirus was a greater threat because it was mowed down by cyclists and joggers who wouldn’t stray from their path.
Many people were left in a lurch until the circumstances permitted. For those who were excluded from the ‘safety net’ offered by their government, the motivation to stay professional decreased accordingly. Weekdays, weekends, and public holidays became more homogenized as the shutdown continued. This was especially true for those who had lost their daily work routine.
In the midst of so much time, good intentions and resolutions were made in order to fill up the gaping hole. In retrospect, I think that many more solutions were broken during the Coronavirus lockdown. It’s unlikely that anyone, not even myself, resolved to drink more. So it was a good idea to give the day a goal to keep order. Hairdressers were locked out, resulting in ever-increasing hair lengths. But once the hippy look of 1969 was accepted, the fear of appearing unprofessional on Zoom and other work-related restrictions subsided. The hospitality industry was closed, and there was no need to commute. This led to more drinking at home. You may have enjoyed your first glass at lunchtime or even earlier in the day, knowing that no professional work was required after consumption.
The humor returned after the initial shock, and so did cocktails with clever names, such as ‘the Quarantine,’ along with advice on health: ‘You cannot touch your face while holding a glass with both hands. The community spirit was evident, but not in an alcoholic way. People helped their less fortunate neighbors with their shopping. I did the same for my wife’s former husband. I was driven to drink alcohol by the fear of contamination and the masks.
Two themes, sometimes bordering on voyeurism, were the focus of headlines about lockdown behavior. First, the amount of sexual activity couples are said to have – what happens when the 1000-piece jigsaw is no longer interesting? Second, record sales for drinks were reported by many retailers, and some even compared them to the Christmas season. However, Corona beer suffered a lot during this period, as was expected. Was this a sign that the Coronavirus was causing nations to change their attitude from ‘glass-half-full’ to “glass always full”? Or a case of “lies, damned lied, and statistics?”
The shelves were bare after waves of panic buying that was not necessary or selfish had emptied them. Retailers that could deliver profited from the fear of leaving the house (imagine being caught with TWO bottles of gin). They also benefited from the weight of the glass. There is no evidence that the consumption of any alcoholic product matched purchases. Quality was not sacrificed for cheaper alternatives in order to match consumption. The pattern of consumption from the wine company owned by my wife reflects both trends on a small scale.
Only 1% of respondents to a poll who asked if people were drinking more admitted that they did. Perhaps alcohol affects memory and honesty just as much. Enjoy drinking, but don’t let alcohol make you careless.
