Alcohol and COVID-19 Pandemic - M.A.Aleem BMJ 2020;369:m1987

BMJ 

British Medical Journal 

Editorials

Covid-19 and alcohol—a dangerous cocktail

BMJ 2020; 369 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1987 (Published 20 May 2020)

Cite this as: BMJ 2020;369:m1987

Rapid response 

Re: Covid-19 and alcohol—a dangerous cocktail

Dear Editor

Alcohol and COVID-19 Pandemic

At the time of lockdown during the Summer COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol consumption can exacerbate health vulnerability, risk-taking behaviours, mental health issues and violence.

Intake of alcohol does not protect people from COVID-19.

One of the dangerous myths is that consuming high-strength alcohol can kill the COVID-19 virus. But It does not.

Alcohol consumption is associated with a wide range of communicable and noncommunicable diseases and mental health disorders, which can make a person more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection and its complications.

Alcohol compromises the body’s immune system and increases the risk of adverse health outcomes with COVID-19 infection.

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that is associated with mental disorders; people at risk or who have an alcohol-use disorder, are particularly vulnerable, especially when in self-isolation during this COVID-19 Pandemic.

People with chronic alcoholism are more prone to get COVID-19 and also they have social disinhibition.

So it is better to avoid alcohol and to adapt social distancing, wear at least a cloth face mask or covering, avoid gathering and try to stay at home to beat the current COVID-19 Pandemic.

Competing interests: No competing interests

29 May 2020

M.A. Aleem

Emeritus Professor of Neurology * Visiting Specialist in Neurology ** Consultant Neurologist ***

The Tamilnadu Dr.M.G.R. Medical University * Dhanalakshami Srinivasan Medical College ** ABC Hospital ***

Chennai 600032* Perambalure 621212** Trichy 620018*** Tamilnadu India

@drmaaleem