Coronavirus leads to booze boom as Americans stay home

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Quarantine time has turned into cocktail time for a lot of Americans during the coronavirus outbreak.

While time spent streaming programs is on the rise, so is alcohol consumption, according to the New York Post.

According to Nielson data, US sales of alcoholic beverages have risen 55 percent in the week ending March 21.

Topping the list are gin, tequila and premixed cocktails. Spirits sales have jumpedi 75 percent compared to a year ago.

Wine sales are up 66 percent, and beer sales have risen 42 percent.

While stores such as supermarkets and pharmacies are considered essential serices, In New York, liquor stores have the same designation.

And while people have been ordered to stay at home, national online sales were up 243 percent, topping the brick-and-mortar locations.

Happy Hours have gone online as consumers are using services such as Zoom, Facebook and FaceTime to congregate and imbibe.

The World Health Organization calls the drinking that is taking place as an unhelpful coping strategy during the lockdown.