The COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions in daily social activities, schooling, and employment for millions of people globally. For some, the pandemic has also led to financial insecurity, exposure to potentially hazardous working conditions, illness, and the illness and/or loss of a loved one. Research has linked traumatic stress from previous viral outbreaks and other mass-traumatic events (e.g., SARS epidemic, 9/11 terrorist attacks, mass shootings, natural disasters) to increases in alcohol use [1–4], particularly in vulnerable groups such as those with a history of alcohol use disorders (AUD) [5]. Much less is known, however, about the risk and protective factors for alcohol use during and after prolonged stressors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. While there is mixed evidence across different study populations [6, 7], several initial reports have suggested that rates of alcohol use have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for some vulnerable groups [8–15]. Researchers have posited a variety of COVID-19-related hardships, such as social disconnection, lack of access to healthcare services, and economic difficulties, as potential explanations for these increases. However, it remains unknown
