Alcohol Consumption, Hangovers, and Smoking among Buenos Aires University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

KARADAYIAN, ANALIA; MERLO, AGNESE; CZERNICZYNIEC, ANALIA; LORES-ARNAIZ, SILVIA; HENDRIKSEN, PAULINE A.; KIANI, PANTEA; BRUCE, GILLIAN; VERSTER, JORIS C.

Journal of Clinical Medicine

MDPI

Lugar: Basel; Año: 2023 vol. 12

In Argentina, the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic led to serious changes tosocial interaction, health, economy, and education. Argentina experienced two extensive lockdownperiods. University education remained virtual for almost two academic years. The purpose ofthe present work was to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns in Argentina on alcoholconsumption, hangover severity and smoking among university students in Buenos Aires. A retrospective online survey was conducted in 2021 among students of the University of Buenos Aires.Participants aged 18–35 years old were asked about the average number of alcoholic drinks andnumber of drinking days per week, binge drinking occasions, drunkenness, next day hangoverseverity, number of hangovers per month, and smoking behavior. The results showed that the firstand second COVID-19 lockdowns were associated with significant reductions in both weekly alcoholconsumption, and hangover severity and subjective intoxication on their heaviest drinking occasions.Males consumed significantly more alcohol than females, and older students (25–35 years old) consumed more alcohol than younger students (18–24 years old). In addition, younger students reduced the number of cigarettes smoked per day during the two lockdown periods while older students exhibited significantly more smoking days per week. In conclusion, the present work in Argentinian students revealed a significant reduction in weekly alcohol consumption, and subjective intoxication and hangover severity on their heaviest drinking occasions during the pandemic lockdown periods.