The pandemic hasn’t been easy for anyone. In March, when our daily lives were put on hold and our social plans came to a halt, we all were left wondering what to do with ourselves. Suddenly we had too much time on our hands, too much to worry about and too few options for keeping ourselves entertained.
Anxious, lonely and bored, Americans turned to alcohol to fill the void. Even as bars closed their doors, the booze kept flowing. Liquor stores remained open. Restaurants began selling customers drinks to-go. And everywhere you went, it seemed like there was a giant arrow pointing you toward the nearest 6-pack.
In quarantine, we entered a sort of vacation mode where it became OK to take a break from our normal routines. People gave themselves permission to indulge in drinks a little more, a little earlier and a lot more often. But for many, what began as a temporary way to relieve stress turned into regular habit. And as the months went by, it grew into addiction.