When Is Alcohol Consumption Highest? New TRR 265 Study Reveals Temporal Drinking Patterns

A new study from TRR 265, published in the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, provides detailed insights into how alcohol consumption changes over time in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Using smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA), the researchers followed 670 participants over a period of 12 months, capturing alcohol use in everyday life.

The results reveal clear temporal patterns: both the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption increased on weekends and around public holidays, with particularly pronounced seasonal peaks in December and declines in January. During the COVID-19 lockdown, drinking frequency also increased, while the amount consumed on drinking days remained unchanged. Interestingly, drinking frequency decreased during the first months of smartphone monitoring and subsequently stabilized at a lower level.

Identifying such higher-risk periods could help improve the timing of future prevention and intervention strategies. In particular, the findings may contribute to the development of adaptive, context-sensitive digital interventions that provide support when the risk of increased alcohol consumption is highest.

The study was published on 4 August 2026 and is available open access.

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