What Happened to Alcohol Consumption in Australia During the <scp>COVID</scp> ‐19 Pandemic? Comparing Alcohol Consumption Measures

We found mixed results in how consumption changed during the pandemic, suggesting that survey and administrative data should be used in conjunction when examining consumption. Using survey data, there were no significant changes in consumption during the pandemic compared with 2019. However, seasonality effects were evident during 2020, which should be considered when assessing consumption during the pandemic. Meanwhile, off-premise sales and sales-based estimates were higher in 2020-2023 than pre-pandemic estimates-suggesting a shift in Australian off-premise purchasing patterns.