Changes in Beverage Consumption Habits During Covid-19 Pandemic; A Case Study of Sri Lanka

Abstract

COVID-19 caused dynamic changes in individuals’ lifestyles. This study investigates the changes in beverage consumption among Sri Lankans, during the COVID-19 first lockdown period. An anonymous online questionnaire was conducted including questions about sociodemographic characteristics, beverage consumption frequency “before” and “during” the lockdown, and opinions. The sample size was calculated by using the formula for estimating a population proportion with absolute precision. Changes in the beverage consumption frequency were analyzed by using the Wilcoxon test method. Factors affecting beverage consumption frequency were identified using the binomial regression model. To find out whether the respondent’s beverage consumption behavior actually became healthier during the pandemic era, Spearman’s correlation test was carried out to check “beverage consumption frequency” versus consumer opinion towards “beverage consumption behavior became healthier during the lockdown period”. Participants (n=600) were randomly selected (aged 31.227±11.06 years) and their gender distribution was balanced at 50%. All types of beverages have shown significant changes in consumption frequency during the pandemic (p < 0.001), except illegal alcohol (p=0.316). Gender, age, marital status, home location, and monthly income were commonly affected variables. According to Spearmans’ correlation test results; soft beverages (-0.132), RTS beverages (-0.047), energy drinks (-0.170), legal alcohols (-0.217), and illegal alcohol (-0.280) have negative correlations while, hot beverages (+0.220), homemade fruit or vegetable drinks (+0.161), traditional ayurvedic beverages (+0.255) and dairy-based beverages (+0.084) have positive correlations. Around 80% of participants believed, their beverage consumption behavior became healthier during the lockdown period. Study reveals there is an observable change in beverage consumption habits; family influence, and immunity-boosting aspects are the major root causes for these observable changes, while “Influence of family” (41.5%) had the highest effect. This study recommends studies on quantitative measurements of individual beverage consumption and informing people more about the immunity boosters in foods and beverages.