Drinking and your body

Does drinking alcohol increase the chance of COVID-19 infection?

Short answer: Excessive drinking can weaken your immune system. It may also make it more likely that you will engage in risky behaviour (including not wearing masks or following social distancing guidelines). This can increase your risk of getting COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The scientific evidence on drinking, in and of itself, and the risk of infection with the coronavirus is still evolving. Evidence relating to other infectious diseases shows that moderate drinkers are no more likely to become infected with such diseases than those who do not drink. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted some countries to introduce new restrictions and even bans on sale and service of alcohol during closings and lockdowns. Here are some basic facts.
does-drinking-alcohol-increase-the-chance
Does drinking alcohol increase the chance of COVID-19 infection?

There’s building scientific evidence that certain behaviours and contexts increase the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission and infection. Because the virus is primarily transmitted through tiny airborne droplets called aerosols, the use of masks and maintaining physical distance are of paramount importance to prevent the spread and reduce risk of infection (1, 2).

Other key measures include avoiding large gatherings and confined spaces. This is why retailers and hospitality venues, where they’re still operational, have reduced occupancy and made efforts to ensure efficient ventilation and air flow (3, 4). Keeping gatherings outdoors is also recommended (2, 3, 5).

So why has the pandemic raised questions about whether drinking alcohol plays a role in infection and transmission of the virus, and if it affects the progression and severity of the disease

How you behave after you have been drinking influences your risk

The specific relationship between drinking and COVID-19 infection continues to be explored. However, science on other infectious diseases shows that people who drink moderately and within recommended guidelines are no more likely to become infected than those who do not drink at all (6, 7), provided they take other necessary precautions. There is currently no evidence to suggest that drinking alcohol by itself raises the risk of COVID-19 infection, provided people are complying with safety recommendations. When people drink excessively and become intoxicated, their inhibitions may be lowered and they may engage in risky behaviours and be less likely to follow guidance around face coverings or comply with social distancing requirements (8, 9).

How much you drink can affect your health and ability to fight off infection

For most people, moderate drinking is compatible with a balanced lifestyle (10). Scientific research has shown moderate drinking isn’t likely to impair your immune response or your ability to fight off disease (6, 11).

However, people who drink excessively, particularly over extended periods of time, may have a weaker immune system (13-15) than those who don’t drink at all or do so moderately. Some studies have suggested that the immune response may be lower even immediately following an episode of excessive or binge drinking (16, 17). Experience with other infectious diseases also suggests that extended heavy drinking may interfere with the effectiveness of treatment (13, 15, 17-19).

Based on clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people in over 150 testing sites around the world, there is currently no evidence that moderate drinking diminishes the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have specific questions about your drinking and how it affects your risk of COVID-19 infection or the effectiveness of a vaccine, it’s best to seek advice from a health professional to help you make informed choices.

Drinking excessively can harm you in several ways, particularly during the pandemic

Excessive drinking is generally harmful to both your physical and mental health, and its effects may be exacerbated during times of stress with the isolation and insecurity many people are experiencing.

Drinking alcohol to relieve stress is both inadvisable and ineffective. Drinking too much can make you depressed and anxious and affect your relationship with people around you.

Excessive drinking can raise your risk of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD) (19) and can disrupt your sleep cycle (20, 21). Sleep is essential to our overall health and wellbeing. A good night’s sleep can help improve mood and is also key to good physical health.

Excessive drinking also may weaken your immune system. If you choose to drink, make sure you adhere to levels recommended in official guidelines.

Drinking alcohol doesn’t protect you against infection

Drinking alcohol does not prevent or reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection (22). While pure alcohol disinfects surfaces and is used in hand sanitisers to help to prevent spread, beer, wine, and spirits contain much lower amounts of alcohol and drinking them does not offer any protection against infection. Drinking pure alcohol or cleaners and hand sanitisers can be toxic and make you very ill or even kill you (23).

If you choose to drink, keeping within recommended limits is as important during the pandemic as at any other time

Keeping your intake within recommended guidelines is important to avoid drinking too much and damaging your health [19]. It’s always important to monitor how much you’re drinking during an occasion, a day, or during a week.

If you’re concerned about your own or someone else’s drinking, it may be time to seek help.Tools are available to help you understand your level of risk.

Excessive drinking may weaken your immune system. If you choose to drink, make sure you adhere to levels recommended in official guidelines.

If you have specific questions about your drinking and how it affects your risk of COVID-19 infection or the effectiveness of a vaccine, it’s best to seek advice from a health professional to help you make informed choices

DrinkWise webpage on the importance of moderation drinking during covid
https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/
Beyond Blue Mental Health support during COVID
https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/
References
  1. World Health Organization (WHO). Modes of transmission of virus causing COVID-19: implications for IPC precaution recommendations. Global research on coronavirus disease (COVID-19). 2020; Available from:
  2. World Health Organization (WHO). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public. 2020 [cited 2020 13 October ]; Available from:
  3. Morawska, L., et al., How can airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors be minimised? Environ Int, 2020. 142: p. 105832.
  4. Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder (CIRES). COVID Airborne Transmission Estimator. 2020; Available from:
  5. Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), Advice to the National Public Health Emergency Team: What activities or settings are associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. 2020, HIQA: Dublin.
  6. Szabo, G. and B. Saha, Alcohol's Effect on Host Defense. Alcohol Res, 2015. 37(2): p. 159-70.
  7. Romeo, J., et al., Moderate alcohol consumption and the immune system: a review. Br J Nutr, 2007. 98 Suppl 1: p. S111-5.
  8. Scott-Sheldon, L.A., et al., Alcohol Use Predicts Sexual Decision-Making: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Experimental Literature. AIDS Behav, 2016. 20 Suppl 1(0 1): p. S19-39.
  9. Harmon, D.A., A.L. Haas, and A. Peterkin, Experimental tasks of behavioral risk taking in alcohol administration studies: A systematic review. Addict Behav, 2021. 113: p. 106678.
  10. Li, Y., et al., Impact of Healthy Lifestyle Factors on Life Expectancies in the US Population. Circulation, 2018. 138(4): p. 345-355.
  11. Messaoudi, I., et al., Moderate alcohol consumption enhances vaccine-induced responses in rhesus macaques. Vaccine, 2013. 32(1): p. 54-61.
  12. Sureshchandra, S., et al., Dose-dependent effects of chronic alcohol drinking on peripheral immune responses. Sci Rep, 2019. 9(1): p. 7847.
  13. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Alcohol's effects on immunity -- increasing the risks for infection and injury. Alcohol Research Current Reviews, 2015. 89.
  14. Barr, T., et al., Opposing effects of alcohol on the immune system. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, 2016. 65: p. 242-51.
  15. Szabo, G. and P. Mandrekar, A recent perspective on alcohol, immunity, and host defense. Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 2009. 33(2): p. 220-32.
  16. Molina, P.E. and S. Nelson, Binge Drinking's Effects on the Body. Alcohol Res, 2018. 39(1): p. 99-109.
  17. Chick, J., Alcohol and COVID-19. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2020. 55(4): p. 341-342.
  18. Molina, P.E., et al., Focus on: Alcohol and the immune system. Alcohol Res Health, 2010. 33(1-2): p. 97-108.
  19. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Alcohol Use Disorder. 2020; Available from:
  20. Hu, N., et al., Alcohol consumption and incidence of sleep disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Drug Alcohol Depend, 2020. 217: p. 108259.
  21. Stein, M.D. and P.D. Friedmann, Disturbed sleep and its relationship to alcohol use. Subst Abus, 2005. 26(1): p. 1-13.
  22. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Drinking alcohol does not prevent or treat coronavirus infection and may impair immune function. 2020; Available from:
  23. Lachenmeier, D.W., J. Rehm, and G. Gmel, Surrogate alcohol: what do we know and where do we go? Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 2007. 31(10): p. 1613-24.

Are you concerned about the effects of drinking?

Whether it's about yourself or someone else, use our drinking self-assessment to understand the risk.

If you or someone you know is drinking problematically, our list of support networks is a good place to start.

More like this