Stress and alcohol consumption in the era of COVID-19: How will babies be affected?

Stress increases the risk of alcohol consumption. The types of stressors known to influence alcohol consumption include general life and catastrophic/fateful stressors. The COVID-19 pandemic is both a general life stressor and a catastrophic stressor and has increased stress at a population level. Public health researchers around the world have expressed concerns about the many possible risks associated with people consuming more alcohol during the pandemic. This article considers the risks to the health of unborn babies of increased alcohol consumption.