One in five Aussies regret how much alcohol they consumed during COVID restrictions, according to new data released this week.
The data, taken from a survey conducted by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, also found 12 per cent of people drank every day during the restrictions and 10 per cent admitted drinking more than the recommended maximum of 10 standard drinks per week.
But 20 per cent of people want to reduce their alcohol intake, according to the survey of 1000 Australians aged 18 to 65.
The findings were released to coincide with the launch of a new national health campaign by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation - Break the Habit.
Research shows it takes about 66 days to form a new habit - about the same amount of time many Australians spent in lockdown.
Alcohol and Drug Foundation chief executive Dr Erin Lalor said it was no surprise people had looked for different ways to cope, including increasing their alcohol consumption, given how tough this year had been.
"The last few months have been incredibly hard for everyone, particularly for those who have lost work, social [connections] and especially for those who have lost loved ones. We've all been trying our best under challenging, never-before-seen circumstances," Dr Lalor said.
"Enough time has passed for behaviours picked up in lockdown to become entrenched. Now is the time for Australians to reflect on their recent drinking, so that little habits developed over the past couple of months, don't turn into a big problem in the future.
"The longer a habit is left to form, the harder it can become to change."
The Break the Habit campaign highlights that even small increases in the amount of alcohol you drink can become harder to shift over time.
A new ad, "Don't let a little habit turn into a big problem" that launched this week, features a creature, which represents the habit of drinking more than usual during lockdown, and encourages people to consider their recent drinking patterns.
The campaign has been funded by the Australian government.
Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the campaign encouraged Australians to "reflect on changes to their lifestyles in recent months, particularly around increased alcohol consumption".
"It's more important than ever that we prioritise our health and well-being. The less alcohol people consume, the lower the risk of alcohol-related accidents, injuries, dependence and chronic illness, such as cancer," he said.
"Less alcohol can also help people feel less stressed or anxious, sleep better, lose weight, improve relationships and save money."
University of Melbourne's Professor Terry Bowles said many people formed new habits over the past few months without realising it.
"The COVID-19 experience will have taught people different things, but for almost all of us, it has shown that we can quickly change our daily routines," he said.
"Routine behaviours, which can have a profound impact on our lives, do not take a long time to form.
"If we started or expanded on unhelpful or unhealthy behaviours in isolation, such as increased alcohol consumption, we may find it hard to revert back to pre-isolation levels."
The National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) draft guidelines recommend consuming no more than 10 standard drinks per week to reduce the risks of alcohol-related injury and diseases, such as cancer.
Details: For more information on the Break the Habit campaign, including advice on how to change behaviour and where to get support, click here.