The Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) in Sri Lanka conducting a study on the changes related to consumption of alcohol and tobacco, has found that the consumption of the two substances has drastically dropped during the COVID-19 situation in Sri Lanka.

The study had been conducted on alcohol (legal and illegal) users and tobacco smokers, and their families on alcohol and tobacco consumption and changes related to consumption in the prevailing situation.

The study was conducted from the 1st to 10th of May 2020 on a sample of 2019 individuals covering the entire country including all 25 districts, stated the ADIC.

The overall results of the study have found that during the COVID-19 situation in the country, alcohol consumption among 80% of alcohol users has reduced while smoking among 68% of tobacco smokers has reduced.

According to the study, out of the individuals who quit/reduced alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 situation, 37% claimed they were prepared to continue their change in future even after the situation normalizes, while 51% of individuals who quit/reduced tobacco smoking in this period claimed they too were prepared to continue their change.

Among the wives of men who consume alcohol, 49% have reported a decrease in family issues due to husband quitting alcohol consumption. A further 40% reported there was an increase in family savings, said ADIC.

Therefore, the results of this study show that the restricted availability of alcohol and tobacco lead to users’ reducing/ quitting use of these two substances, stated ADIC.

While it may be difficult to quit/ reduce use and experience its benefits under normal circumstances, this study shows that the situational influences during COVID-19 provided a chance to experience the benefits of being free from the use, the organization further said.

“Globally, the alcohol and tobacco industries are against sales restrictions and reduced availability of their products because users will quit use by realizing that they can live without these substances and specifically by understanding that it is more comfortable to live free from these substances”, the press release issued by the ADIC concludes.