Alcohol-related U.S. deaths increased during COVID. In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol-related deaths in the United States increased by 25%, rising from 78,927 deaths in 2019 to 99,017 in 2020, according to a study in the May 3 JAMA. Researchers examined mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics, identifying an alcohol-related death as any death where an alcohol-induced cause was listed as an underlying or contributing cause on the death certificate. The 25% increase in alcohol-related deaths was higher than the 16.6% increase in all-cause mortality. Deaths increased across all age groups and were similar for men and women. Excessive drinking increased during the pandemic as people used alcohol to deal with COVID-related stress and anxiety and job loss. Monitoring and further research is needed to determine if alcohol and alcohol-related morbidity and mortality persist so that public health policies and appropriate mental health interventions can be developed.