Alcohol in isolation: Understanding single-person household drinking patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic in Seoul

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined changes in alcohol drinking behaviors among single-person households in Seoul, South Korea, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and compared them with multiple-person households. The study further identified factors influencing changes in alcohol consumption, specifically among single-person households. Methods: Data were drawn from a survey on health behavior changes conducted among 3,669 adults aged 20–69 living in Seoul in October 2020. We analyzed how pandemic-related changes—such as reduced income, heightened stress, mental health vulnerability, Internet use, and increased time at home—affected drinking frequency, quantity, location, and partners. Results: Overall alcohol consumption declined during the pandemic, but patterns differed by household type. Single-person households reported more frequent solitary drinking at home and a smaller reduction in heavy drinking than multiple-person households. Within single-person households, higher stress and greater leisure-related Internet use were associated with increased drinking frequency, quantity, and solitary home drinking. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the pandemic reinforced patterns of solitary drinking without adequately addressing preexisting alcohol-related health problems. Although overall consumption declined, the rise in habitual solitary drinking at home underscores the need for targeted health promotion interventions to prevent long-term alcohol-related harms.