Fears people in North Yorkshire are turning to 'cheaper and stronger' alcohol due to cost of living crisis
Research shows pressures have left to a shift in drinking habits
We are told people across North Yorkshire are turning to 'cheaper and stronger' alcohol on supermarket shelves due to the rising cost-of-living.
New research shows that post pandemic pressures have led to a shift in drinking habits-with more people buying booze from local shops.
Adam Pike is a recovery co-ordinator at North Yorkshire Horizons and has battled his own alcohol problems while living and working in Scarborough.
He said: "It's quite upsetting because a lot of people aren't aware the trap that they can fall into with sort of going down that road. We see so many people in the service who start on a few beers then it goes to a bottle of wine and then it goes to spirits and vodkas.
"It's also alarming to see that drinking at home rather than in pubs doesn't allow for us to measure drinks, so people become a bit blasé about the amount that they drink. At home, you wouldn't necessarily measure out a single shot of vodka, you just sort of pour it into the glass until you feel like it's OK.
"As well as drinking at home, it's a disconnection from society. We're aware that being out in pubs and being more sociable with people it doesn't happen very often nowadays because people have gotten into this 'Covid hangover' of keeping themselves to themselves and disconnecting from things that are outside of the house.
"When things got really worse for me, we're talking sort of 2017-2018 where I was taking out payday loans and once the habit gets you, it becomes a very, very demanding beast."
If you need help or want advice, visit the North Yorkshire Horizons website.
The research
Drug, alcohol, and mental health charity, With You, is raising awareness of drinking dangers as the cost-of-living crisis is driving people to buy cheaper and stronger alcohol from supermarkets.
It says the crisis has led to a shift in drinking habits, as 56% confess to buying more alcohol from supermarkets now, with 45% choosing supermarket brands. The worry here is that 39% are aware that when they buy cheaper alcohol it contains higher alcohol content, which could lead to a downward spiral with drink.
Those who are suffering from mental health pressures related to the crisis could increase their alcohol consumption as people are drinking due to feeling sad or depressed (39%), anxious (38%) or lonely and isolated (35%), with some saying they feel more comfortable drinking alcohol alone compared to a year ago (42%).
The charity added that worringly, a third (33%) of respondents agree that if they were worried about their alcohol intake being too high they would prefer not to seek any kind of support.