Drivers of Unhealthy Behaviour: Pandemic and Changes in Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for public health worldwide. The dynamics of alcohol consumption patterns are influenced not only by individual characteristics, but also by macro-level factors and the consequences of economic and social shocks. One of the significant disruptions of recent years is the COVID-19 pandemic, accompanied by unprecedented restrictive measures. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption in the Russian Federation. The empirical part of the work is based on panel data from RLMS HSE and regional data from Rosstat for the period from 2019 to 2021. The study confirms that changes in alcohol consumption in Russia in 2020-2021 were caused by multidirectional factors - stress and deterioration of the economic situation. The results of the work can be used to identify population groups that are most at risk of increased consumption during an economic downturn. Also, the analysis can contribute to the development of preventive and restrictive measures to deter excessive alcohol consumption during crises.