Third, we observe that changes in drinking patterns are not homogeneous across the whole population but differ by living arrangement and, to a lesser degree, by feelings of social isolation. Although it could be argued that both variables are highly related, it is interesting that their role as moderators is independent from each other, and the relative importance of one or the other changes throughout the observation period. Thus, the long covid winter of 2021 made a different impact among those living alone, who increased their drinking earlier than those sharing a household, in line with studies reporting increased solitary drinking during the lockdown (Wardell et al., 2020). On the other hand, those living with partner and/or family, particularly those with children, reported higher alcohol consumption in summer, probably in the context of outdoor activities and social gatherings during the summer holidays season.
