The Economic and Psychosocial Effects of COVID-19 on Alcohol Use in Grenada during Lockdown: A Discussion on Policy Solutions to Prevent Harmful Alcohol Consumption

In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, there has been an increase in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The institution of lockdowns and consequent alcohol misuse has been associated with economic challenges and worsening psychosocial conditions. Stress-inducing changes in interpersonal, financial, and broader social dynamics have resulted in increased reports of depression, interpersonal abuse, aggressive behaviours, anxiety, and even suicidality, leading those affected to more frequent and more heavy alcohol use as a coping mechanism. This review focused on trends of alcohol use during the pandemic in Grenada, and it also explored the economic and psychosocial factors that contributed to adverse outcomes of alcohol use. In response to the destructive coping strategies associated with deteriorating mental health, the paper also proposed vigorous policy changes to mitigate the ongoing misuse of alcohol, particularly during future crises. Library databases, webpages of various governments and international agencies, and peer-reviewed journal sources were searched for data on global alcohol consumption during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 lockdown periods, focusing on Grenada. A total of 64 sources published between 1979-2021 were included based on their relevance. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of building resilient public health systems and addressing public health concerns such as excessive alcohol consumption.