Copy The impact of lockdowns during a global pandemic appears to be making itself known in a variety of ways – subtle and otherwise – including increased drinking and swearing. Or, as we like to call it, "the weekend". There's no denying that the pandemic has been tough, and the IT industry was far from immune. We've seen numerouseventscancelled, supplychainissues and the joys of looking terrible on camera – and those were all in the first three months. How did we react? Well, we drank. And swore. At least, that's the conclusion which can be drawn from studies undertaken, beginning with a paper from researchers at Flinders University, who have directly tied the lockdowns in the UK and Australia to an increase in drinking – among middle-aged women, at least.