S.F. Bay Area is drinking 42% more alcohol than usual while sheltering in place

[Auggie]

During the first week of sheltering in place, Bay Area residents drank more alcohol than usual — 42% more than usual, in fact, according to data from BACtrack, a San Francisco company that produces smartphone-connected breathalyzer devices.

The idea for the study came from people’s anecdotal impressions that drinking was up, said BACtrack CEO Keith Nothacker. “We said, let’s go check the data. Sure enough, drinking had exploded post-shelter-in-place.”

The BACtrack findings dovetail with reports of increased demand for alcohol delivery: San Francisco online retailer Wine.com reports that its spirits sales have surged 400% since shelter-in-place orders started, for example. Newly relaxed regulations from California’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control have made it legal for bars and restaurants to deliver cocktails now, too.

To produce the data set, BACtrack compared users’ blood alcohol concentration levels during the first week that shelter-in-place orders went into effect for six Bay Area counties, March 17, with the two-week period preceding it. The data looked at users of BACtrack devices who live in those counties, which totaled around 500 breathalyzer tests during that time period, Northacker said — but he added that BACtrack collects “millions” of data points worldwide, and already are seeing similar results from other metropolitan areas.

MORE: https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/The-Bay-Area-is-drinking-42-more-alcohol-than-15167591.php

[fleur-de-lisa]

1. Who isn't?

[BigmanPigman]

17. Me, unfortunately.

I get a migraine within 5 minutes. This started to happen 4 years ago. No more whiskey or anything for me...

[ailsagirl]

21. I'm not

Not interested in spirits but I'm having a hard time not eating out of boredom/stress

[CanonRay]

2. Same on the Oregon coast

But I was the only one surveyed

[DarthDem]

11. LOL!

[dem4decades]

3. East coast here, 5 o'clock comes early some days.

[stopwastingmymoney]

12. Lol, exactly

Not quite 5 here and I’m on my second

[CanonRay]

20. EDT Eastern Drinking Time

[intrepidity]

4. Glad to do my part nt

[pdxflyboy]

5. Same here

In Portland, Oregon.

[Mr.Bill]

6. Sales is not the same as consumption.

Do you think all that toilet paper has been used?

Usually I will buy some liquor with the weekly grocery shopping. Enough for a week or so.

Two weeks ago I bought enough to last six weeks. I am actually drinking a little less day by day than usual.

[Auggie]

9. This data includes breath tests

[Mr.Bill]

10. But it doesn't go into details about all the possible variables.

Are people testing at different times of the day than usual because they are off work, for instance. Are people testing who don't normally do it much at all?

[Auggie]

13. Its a generalization. Look, if you're challenging the reporting ...

take it up with The San Francisco Chronicle.

Cheers.

[Mr.Bill]

14. I'll just say the company who makes the breathalyzer

has a good publicist and let it go at that.

Cheers to you also.

[utopian]

7. Sounds about right

Been having virtual happy hours with my friends and family.

[58Sunliner]

8. I bought enough for the summer, or close to it.

I thought liquor stores would be closed. Nope. Apparently they are considered essential businesses.

[Mr.Bill]

15. I buy mine at the grocery store.

There are no big box liquor discount stores where I live, unfortunately.

[58Sunliner]

16. Ours are state run, unfortunately.

I really dislike that I can't order stuff and have it shipped.

[pnwest]

18. there WOULD be rioting if there were suddenly no alcohol available, it's VERY essential.

You don't take away people's crutches in a time like this. I know *I* am drinking more than usual, since I'm not working nor looking for work, I automatically revert to my youthful ways and party it up just because I can.

[58Sunliner]

22. I am too. Normally I do not drink but twice a week, one drink.

I drink herbal tea all day long. But lately the only thing that cuts the stress is a shot sized drink of something hard.

[nilram]

19. Ha, just the kind of breathalyzer to buy: one connected to your smartphone.