Cheap Beer Sales Get A Big Bounce During Quarantine

With Washington's lock down continuing, while much of the rest of the nation starting to open up - well, it's enough to drive a person to drink! And we are.

General alcohol sales have increased during quarantine with Nielsen data shows sales of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. rose 55 percent in the week ending March 21st.

Spirits such as tequila and gin have jumped up the most, and wine sales have also risen 66 percent.

Fox News reports we're drinking more beer too although new stats show we aren't drinking what the industry might call the "good stuff". Analysis firm inMarket has data showing the highest increase in beer sales are those that are a bit cheaper, such as Busch Light, Miller Light, and Natural, or Natty Light.

The firm says between March 1st and April 17th there was a 44 percent sales increase for Busch Light, and between 14 percent and 17 percent increases for Miller Lite, Michelob Ultra, and Natural Light.

But is this kind of stay-at-home-self-medication activity the smart thing to do?

A study that detailed "the immediate impact getting drunk shows the immune system may see a brief boost about 20 minutes after peak intoxication...but about 2 to 5 hours after getting drunk, that boost fades and the immune system significantly slows down. Researchers noticed a reduction in the white blood cells important to immunity, along with an increase in proteins that reduce the immune system’s effectiveness."

The Mayo Clinic's findings also indicate, " drinking too much alcohol can have a negative impact on the body’s immune system, specifically, that excessive drinking makes it harder for the body to resist disease."

As Shirley Temple might say, while drinking a Shirley Temple, "Oh my goodness!"

Categories: Consumer Awareness, Coronavirus updates, Health and Fitness