In response to the COVID-19 pandemic (DoH 2020c), a range of measures were introduced in Australia in mid-March 2020 to limit the spread of COVID-19 (DoH 2020a). These measures were extended in late March 2020 with all non-essential services ordered by the Australian Government to temporarily close. This included licensed liquor outlets such as pubs and clubs, excluding bottle shops attached to these venues (DoH 2020b).
Throughout the several waves of the pandemic, restrictions were implemented and eased sporadically across the different states and territories. Some pubs and clubs were able to apply for a free short-term and temporary licence to sell take-away liquor (APH 2020).
As a result of these measures, it was expected that variations in sales and consumption of alcohol, drinking patterns and illicit drug use will have an impact on the Australian population (ADF 2020; Dietze & Peacock 2020). As such, the Australian Government announced in April 2020 that an additional $6 million would be allocated to online and phone support services for people experiencing drug and alcohol problems (Hunt 2020).
Several studies have been undertaken or are underway, with the specific aim of assessing the impact of COVID-19.
Data sources are not directly comparable and care should be taken when interpreting data; see the Data Quality statement on each source for further information on collection time periods, sample selection and methods.
View the Alcohol and other drugs during COVID-19 fact sheet >
Smoking prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic
Australian Bureau of Statistics - Pandemic insights into Australian smokers
The Australian Bureau of Statistics report Pandemic insights into Australian smokers, 2020-21 combines smoking information from multiple surveys conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic into a single data set. The snapshot of Australian smoking prevalence in 2020–21 estmated that, based on self reported data:
- 1 in 10 adults were current daily smokers (10.7% or 2.1 million adults).
- Men (12.6%) were more likely than women (8.8%) to smoke daily.
- Those aged 55–64 accounted for the highest proportion of daily smokers at 13.7%; the lowest proportion was in the 15–17 year old age group (1.4%).
- Adults with fair or poor health were more likely to be current daily smokers (17.7%).
- Adults living in areas of most disadvantage were more than three times as likely to be current daily smokers compared with adults living in areas of least disadvantage (17.8% and 5.8%, respectively).
- Adults living in outer regional and remote Australia were almost twice as likely to be current daily smokers compared with those living in major cities (17.9% and 9.3%) (ABS 2022).
Spending on alcohol
Commonwealth Bank of Australia – card spend data
CBA card spend data showed an initial increase in spending on alcohol in March 2020, which may have been driven by stockpiling in response to concerns that bottle shops may close with the introduction of tighter restrictions. This pattern reversed in April 2020 (G Aird 2020, pers. comm.,14 May).
Throughout the period May 2020 to early February 2021, CBA card spending on alcohol goods (such as bottle shops) continued to be higher when compared to the equivalent period in the previous year while there was a decline in spending on alcohol services (such as pubs and clubs). Spending on alcohol services increased in mid-November
A decline in spending on alcohol services (such as pubs and clubs) was reversed in mid-November 2020 for the first time since COVID-19 restrictions were introduced (CBA 2020).
There are several caveats to note when interpreting the Commonwealth Bank of Australia card spending data; refer to section Data quality: Commonwealth Bank of Australia, CBA Card Spend.
Along with declines in the value of alcohol sales, leading alcohol producers and distributors have also reported declines in the volume of alcohol sold in April 2020 when compared with the previous year. The percentage change in the volume of alcohol sold ranged from 6.8% lower for wine to 61% lower for cider. While the volume of alcohol sold in the first 2 weeks of May 2020 had increased, the volume sold was still lower when compared with the same period in 2019 (ABA 2020).
Purchase and consumption of alcohol and other drugs
The results from several self-reported surveys have produced mixed findings with regard to the impact of COVID-19 on the consumption of alcohol and other drugs. Some examples of these findings are provided below. For more information about these self-reported surveys, see the Data Quality section.
The ABS Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey collected information from approximately 1,000 people fortnightly throughout Australia. Several survey waves have included questions about alcohol and other drug consumption.
Wave 3 (29 April–4 May 2020) of the survey included a question about changes in smoking and the consumption of alcohol and prescription medicines in the previous 4 weeks due to COVID-19 (ABS 2020a).
- Nearly half (47.1%) of participants said their consumption of alcohol stayed the same, and 28.9% reported that they do not usually consume alcohol.
- 14.4% reported an increase—a higher proportion of females (18%) than males (10.8%) reported increased alcohol consumption.
- 9.5% reported a decrease (ABS 2020a).
- Almost 9 in 10 (87.5%) people reported that they did not usually smoke, and a further 9.0% said their tobacco consumption (including cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products) stayed the same.
- Most people said their consumption of prescription or over the counter medications stayed the same (62.4%) or that they did not usually consume medications (34.9%) (ABS 2020a).
Wave 7 (24–29 June 2020) of the survey included a question about consumption of alcohol in the last 2 weeks compared to usual consumption before March 2020 (ABS 2020b). Notably, participants who reported that they did not usually consume alcohol were included in Wave 3 (April–May 2020) but excluded from analysis in Wave 7 (June 2020). However, results were broadly similar across both waves.
- Most people reported that their alcohol consumption stayed at the same level (71.5%) or decreased (14.7%) compared to before March 2020, and 13.9% reported drinking more (Figure COVID1).
- Females (15.9%) remained more likely than males (12.1%) to report increased alcohol consumption (ABS 2020b).
The May 2021 iteration of the survey included a question about using or cutting out alcohol or drugs as a strategy in managing mental health since March 2020.
- Using alcohol or drugs as a strategy was used by 10.3% of men and 6.3% of women. People aged 18 to 34 years were most likely to use this strategy at 11.6%.
- Cutting out alcohol or drugs as a strategy was used by 3.7% of men and 3.8% of women. People aged 18 to 34 years were most likely to use this strategy at 4.5% (ABS 2021b).

Note: Data collection took place from 24–29 June 2020. Participants were asked to report on their alcohol consumption in the last 2 weeks compared to usual consumption before March 2020.
Source: AIHW. Adapted from Wave 7 of the ABS Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey.
National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program
The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program (NWDMP) measures the presence of substances in over 58 sewerage treatment plants across Australia; in 2021, this covered approximately 57% of the population. Reports 11 to 15 of the program covered the period from December 2019 to October 2021 for both regional and capital city sites (ACIC 2022).
The introduction of COVID-19 restrictions nationally in March 2020 had a notable effect on alcohol consumption. The usual increase in weekend consumption became less common as pubs, clubs and restaurants who serve alcohol either closed or had restricted customer numbers. Once restrictions were eased in June 2020, several jurisdictions showed a rebound in alcohol consumption, with weekend use once again markedly higher than weekday use (ACIC 2021).
Initial COVID-19 restrictions did not produce immediate disruptions to Australia’s drug markets in 2019–20 as existing supplies were consumed. However, market disruptions were seen in 2020–21, with impacts differing between drug types, and both between, and within, jurisdictions.
Using an estimated population-weighted average, decreases in consumption between 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 were seen in methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and heroin. However, record levels of cannabis consumption were recorded in both capital cities and regional areas in August 2021, despite being effected earlier in the pandemic during 2020 and 2021 (ACIC 2022).