Six years of alcohol consumption in Hanoi, Vietnam, by wastewater analysis: Assessing changes impacted by socio-economical factors

Objectives

Alcohol consumption in Vietnam increased significantly over past decade alongside its economic development. However, in recent years, several alcohol control measures including a new drink-driving law and taxes as well as the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the consumption levels. This study aimed to monitor alcohol use trends in Hanoi over six consecutive years.

Study design

We conducted a time series analysis of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for alcohol consumption from 2018 to 2023.

Methods

Ethyl sulfate, a biomarker for alcohol consumption, was measured in wastewater samples collected consecutively for at least 30 days each year from a catchment of approximately 400,000 people.

Results

The findings revealed a clear downward trend in alcohol consumption, with an average annual decline of 7.51 %. Consumption remained stable across all days of the week, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most pronounced reduction occurred during 2020–2021, coinciding with COVID-19 restrictions. From 2022 onwards, signs of a rebound in alcohol consumption were observed, consistent with the national sales trends. Additionally, a marked shift was noted from on-trade (e.g., bars/restaurants) to off-trade (home-based), likely reflecting both pandemic-related restrictions and the enforcement of the strict drink-driving law.

Conclusion

Alcohol consumption trends and shifts in drinking settings in Hanoi during the study period were likely influenced by a combination of public health measures and policy interventions, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the strict drink-driving law. This study successfully used WBE for relatively low-cost longitudinal monitoring of alcohol use in resource-limited settings, providing necessary evidence for public health policy formulation.