20% Of NJ Adults Drank Before Midday During Pandemic: Report

NEW JERSEY — It's always 5 o'clock somewhere. During the pandemic, it seems more New Jerseyans have put the justification into practice. Twenty percent of drinkers in the Garden State admitted to drinking alcohol before middays since the beginning of the pandemic, according to alcoholrehab.com.

This equates to 1.3 million people in the state, according to the website. Broken down across states, Nebraskans were most guilty of pre-midday drinking, with 27 percent saying this has been the case since the pandemic began. West Virginians were least likely, with only 6 percent admitting to the habit.

But the Garden State isn't completely off the hook. Since the start of the pandemic, 15 percent of respondents said they're more likely to start drinking earlier in the day. But only 39 percent would be open and honest about their pre-midday drinking habits.

The website believes that people might hide their habit from friends and family out of shame or fear and judgment. But 63 percent say they would be concerned with this and would approach a family member or friend who they noticed drinking alcohol in the early hours of the day.

Alcoholrehab.com surveyed 3,100 drinkers — 21 or older — in New Jersey. According to the responses, 15 percent of people admitted they look forward to special occasions, such as birthdays, as an excuse to drink alcohol earlier in the day.

Thirteen percent said they believe it's more acceptable to smoke weed in the morning than drink alcohol during that time.

Several studies have found Americans drinking more lately. Stores sold 54 percent more alcohol in late March 2020 compared to the year prior, according to Nielsen.

The journal JAMA Network Open found 14 percent drinking more often during the pandemic. It's not all fun and games though. Instances among women of heavy drinking — four or more drinks in a couple of hours — spiked by 41 percent, according to the report.

The World Health Organization European office also warned in April 2020 against excessive drinking, and even said access to alcohol should be limited during the pandemic.

"Alcohol consumption is associated with a range of communicable and noncommunicable diseases and mental health disorders, which can make a person more vulnerable to COVID-19," the organization said. "In particular, alcohol compromises the body’s immune system and increases the risk of adverse health outcomes."

New Jersey's Department of Human Services offers resources for anyone facing addiction.