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Aims: The aim of this study was to examine changes in alcohol consumption during the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic in Germany in comparison to changes in other European countries. Method: Analyses of sociodemographic and socio-economic data, as well as reports on alcohol use changes since the pandemic collected through a European online survey (N=40,064) in 21 countries. Weights based on gender, age and education were applied to account for sample bias. Results: Since the beginning of the pandemic, alcohol consumption has decreased on average. The decline is primarily due to a reduction in heavy episodic drinking occasions. As compared to other European countries, alcohol consumption in Germany has declined less sharply. This is mainly due to an increase in alcohol consumption among women as well as among people who report negative impacts on jobs and finances and among people with risky consumption patterns. Conclusion: In order to counter negative consequences of increased alcohol consumption in sub-groups during the pandemic, cutting the availability of alcohol through reasonable taxation and fostering alcohol screening activities in primary health care settings is needed.

Aims: The aims of the article are (a) to estimate coverage rates (i.e. the proportion of ‘real consumption’ accounted for by a survey compared with more reliable aggregate consumption data) of the total, the recorded and the beverage-specific annual per capita consumption in 23 European countries, and (b) to investigate differences between regions, and other factors which might be associated with low coverage (prevalence of heavy episodic drinking [HED], survey methodology). Methods: Survey data were derived from the Standardised European Alcohol Survey and Harmonising Alcohol-related Measures in European Surveys (number of surveys: 39, years of survey: 2008–2015, adults aged 20–64 years). Coverage rates were calculated at the aggregated level by dividing consumption estimates derived from the surveys by alcohol per capita estimates from a recent global modelling study. Fractional response regression models were used to examine the relative importance of the predictors. Results: Large variation in coverage across European countries was observed (average total coverage: 36.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] [33.2; 39.8]), with lowest coverage found for spirits consumption (26.3, 95% CI [21.4; 31.3]). Regarding the second aim, the prevalence of HED was associated with wine- and spirits-specific coverage, explaining 10% in the respective variance. However, neither the consideration of regions nor survey methodology explained much of the variance in coverage estimates, regardless of the scenario. Conclusion: The results reiterate that alcohol survey data should not be used to compare or estimate aggregate consumption levels, which may be better reflected by statistics on recorded or total per capita consumption.

Hintergrund: Riskanter Alkoholkonsum und schwere Alkoholkonsumstörungen sollten wegen gesundheitlichen Folgeschäden rechtzeitig erkannt werden. Die S3-Leitlinie „Screening, Diagnose und Behandlung alkoholbezogener Störungen“ empfiehlt daher die routinemäßige Anwendung von Screeningverfahren, z. B. in Allgemeinarztpraxen. Wird ein riskanter Konsum festgestellt, soll eine Kurzintervention erfolgen. Bei schwerer Alkoholkonsumstörung ist eine Entzugsbehandlung angezeigt, bei Komplikationsrisiken in stationärer Form. Ziel der Arbeit: Schätzung des Anteils von Personen mit riskantem Konsum und schwerer Alkoholkonsumstörung in leitlinienkonformer Versorgung im Bundesland Bremen. Material und Methoden: Die Prävalenz riskanten Konsums (weibl.: ≥12 g/Tag; männl.: ≥24 g/Tag) und schwerer Alkoholkonsumstörungen (weibl.: ≥60 g/Tag; männl.: ≥90 g/Tag) wurde über den Pro-Kopf-Konsum von Reinalkohol geschätzt. Behandlungsraten wurden auf Grundlage von Umfragedaten (für riskanten Konsum) sowie mittels Sekundärdaten vollstationärer Krankenhausaufenthalte (für schwere Alkoholkonsumstörung) geschätzt. Die Schätzungen beziehen sich auf die Bevölkerung ab 15 Jahre im Bundesland Bremen im Jahr 2016. Ergebnisse: Nur 2,9 % aller Personen mit riskantem Alkoholkonsum wurden durch ihre Hausärzt*innen gescreent; die Hälfte davon (1,4 %) erhielt eine Kurzintervention. 7,1 % der Personen mit einer schweren Alkoholkonsumstörung wurden vollstationär behandelt. Stationäre Entzugsbehandlungen wurden bei 14,1 % der Personen mit einer schweren Alkoholkonsumstörung durchgeführt, bei denen ein stationärer Entzug erforderlich ist. Unterdurchschnittliche Behandlungsraten wurden bei 21- bis 39-Jährigen registriert. Diskussion: Riskanter Konsum und schwere Alkoholkonsumstörungen sind in Bremen unzureichend versorgt, insbesondere bei 21- bis 39-Jährigen., Background: Early detection of risky alcohol use and severe alcohol use disorders (AUDs) is crucial to avoid adverse health consequences. The German “Guidelines on Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders” recommend to routinely screen patients for hazardous alcohol use and to subsequently conduct brief interventions, for example in primary healthcare. For severe AUDs, provision of withdrawal treatment is recommended in inpatient settings if complications are anticipated. Objectives: To estimate the proportion of people with hazardous alcohol use or severe AUDs receiving healthcare as stipulated by the guidelines. Materials and methods: The prevalence of hazardous use (female ≥12 g; male ≥24 g) and severe AUDs (female ≥60 g; male ≥90 g) was estimated using per capita consumption of pure alcohol. Treatment rates were estimated using survey data (for hazardous use) and inpatient admissions (for severe AUDs). All estimates refer to the adult population (15 years or older) of the federal state of Bremen for 2016. Results: Physicians screened 2.9% of all people with hazardous alcohol use and conducted brief interventions with 1.4%. Among people with severe AUDs, 7.1% received inpatient treatment. Among people with severe AUDs who required inpatient treatment, 14.1% received withdrawal treatment in inpatient settings. Treatment rates below average were registered among 21- to 39-year-olds. Conclusions: In Bremen, provision of guideline-conform healthcare for hazardous alcohol use and severe AUDs is insufficient, especially among 21- to 39-year-olds., Titel på engelska:Provision of healthcare for people with risky alcohol use and severe alcohol use disorders in the state of Bremen, Germany: demand and guideline concordance?