Can You Drink Alcohol With Covid?
The Covid-19 pandemic is a global cause for concern. It is affecting hundreds of thousands of people daily, and has spread to every major country. It has dampened many industries, such as food, stock, and sports, along with many other businesses. Some industries and products that have seen a rise in profit, one of those products being alcohol.
Before the pandemic, alcohol misuse was already a huge problem. Between March 1 and April 18, 2020, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, alcohol sales rose sharply. In the week of March 21, sales at liquor stores and other off-premises locations increased by 54%. Online alcohol sales jumped by 262% compared to the same week in 2019.
During a time of great unease, discomfort, and fear, people will use just about anything to ease their stress. For many, alcohol became a coping mechanism during Covid-19.
Questions continue to arise around the use of alcohol during Covid. Can you drink alcohol with Covid? What are alcohol’s effect on the immune system? Does drinking alcohol get rid of Covid?
Alcohol’s Effect on The Immune System
Alcohol’s effect on the immune system is serious. Alcohol directly weakens your immune system when consumed moderately or in large quantities. The immune system is crucial for fighting off potential viruses, infections, and bacteria that can harm you.
A healthy lifestyle—like exercising, eating well, and getting enough sleep—helps ensure your immune system is strong. But there are many factors that can lead to an unhealthy immune system. These include smoking, stress, and drinking alcohol. These work against your immune system, making it harder to defend your body against dangerous viruses and bacterial infections.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Alcohol alters the makeup of your gut microbiome — home to trillions of microorganisms performing several crucial roles for your health — and affects those microorganisms’ ability to support your immune system. It seems that drinking alcohol may also damage the immune cells that line the intestines and serve as the first line of defense against bacteria and viruses.”
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Alcohol and Covid
Even before the pandemic, people turned to alcohol for many reasons. These reasons could be work pressure, relationship issues, social situations, and depression, to name a few. The reasons behind drinking, and even abusing alcohol, are nothing new.
Alcohol can lead to both short and long-term problems, even if only consumed moderately. Research shows that no amount of alcohol is truly safe. Some of the risks include:
- Major organ damage
- Weakened immune system
- Different types of cancer
- Changing of decision-making, behavior, judgment, and thoughts
- Violence in many forms, including sexual, or against children, partner, and loved ones
- Vehicular injuries from crashes
So, on its own, alcohol is already very dangerous. Alcohol and covid are a very dangerous combination.
The World Health Organization says that heavy drinking increases the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. ARDS is a serious complication of COVID-19. It happens when fluid fills the lungs and makes it hard for the body to get enough oxygen. Alcohol also weakens the immune system, which makes it easier to get infections.
This is especially important with COVID-19. The virus spreads easily, and people who drink a lot and have weak immune systems are more likely to catch it.
Heavy drinkers tend to have worse symptoms than people with healthy immune systems. The risk is even higher for those with health problems like liver disease or pancreatitis. These people often face more severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Safer Ways to Manage Stress During Covid-19
Since alcohol can harm your body and make COVID-19 worse, finding healthier ways to manage stress is vital. Simple changes can make a huge difference in how you feel physically and emotionally.
First, prioritize staying hydrated with water and nourishing your body with balanced meals. Proper nutrition supports your immune system and overall health. Regular physical activity, even a short daily walk, can improve mood and strengthen your body’s defenses.
Try to prioritize maintaining social connections safely. Video calls, phone chats, or socially distanced meetups can reduce feelings of isolation without increasing your risk of infection. Practicing mindfulness, meditation, or deep-breathing exercises can calm your mind and reduce anxiety.
If your stress or drinking feels overwhelming, get help from a professional. Many counselors and support groups offer online services to help you cope during these difficult times.
Can You Drink Alcohol With Covid?
Alcohol and Covid have the potential to be fatal. The WHO and the US surgeon general have both suggested that people slow down on their drinking during the pandemic. This is to try to make your body stronger against catching the virus.
Since there is little research on Covid thus far, it can be hard to determine whether you can drink alcohol with Covid or not. Limited research shows that drinking alcohol while having COVID can make your illness much worse.
Some people have bought into several ideas about alcohol and covid. Some people think drinking alcohol destroys the virus that spreads Covid, but this is untrue. Drinking alcohol increases the risks associated with a COVID infection.
Alcohol can have some effect on your skin as a disinfectant, but it doesn’t work that way when put into your system. Some have said that drinking hard liquor with 40% alcohol destroys the Covid virus. This is incorrect, as consuming alcohol does not eliminate viruses in the mouth and throat. In general, it doesn’t give you any repellent against Covid.
Lastly, some believe that alcohol stimulates immunity and a resistance toward the virus. This statement is incorrect. Alcohol’s effect on the immune system is rather dangerous. No research indicates that it protects against any kind of virus, disease, or infection.
So, can you drink alcohol with covid? Experts recommend drinking water and healthy fluids to help your body prevent or fight COVID. Drinking alcohol with covid will delay recovery and has potential to do serious harm to your health. Consuming alcohol while having COVID makes the situation much more dangerous.
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