Poll: Young people in particular have hamstered in Corona crisis

In the Corona crisis, according to a survey, it was mainly young people who hamstered medicines, food and hygiene products.

This is shown by a study by market researcher Nielsen, for which around 1000 people were surveyed representatively in mid-April. The survey on behalf of the Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (BAH) was available to the German Press Agency.

According to the survey, 43 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds said they had bought drugs beyond the amount they had procured in normal times. Among 30-39 year olds, it was 34 percent. By contrast, only 15 percent of 50-59 year olds and 9 percent of over-60s had drugs. This was well below the average of 23 percent for the elderly.

It was not only with medicines that it became apparent that younger people in particular were buying on stock. For example, 53 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds said they had procured everyday products such as food, soap or toilet paper at the same level, and 51 percent of 30-39-year-olds. This was far more than in the group between 50 and 60 and among the over-60s (24 and 19 percent respectively). Large households with three to four and more than five people were therefore particularly hamstered, as were those with a high level of education. Low-income households held back.

One reason for the shopping behavior is that parents have also created supplies for their children, the market researchers said. This could explain why relatively young people have been increasingly attracted to food and medicines. They felt responsible for other people in the household – for example, when they were suffering from illnesses.

Concerned about the coronavirus, consumers had covered themselves with toilet paper, soap, pasta and yeast – shelves in drugstores and supermarkets remained empty due to lack of supplies. At Easter, according to the Federal Statistical Office, shopping behaviour returned to normal, partly because the needs of many households were met.

Medicines for colds, fevers or pain were also in high demand among consumers for fear of the pandemic. At the same time, supply bottlenecks for medicines increased, according to the Federal Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices. Pharmacists repeatedly stressed in the Corona crisis that there are often alternatives for over-the-counter medicines when a drug is just in short supply.

In the survey, many people also said they had bought medicines without urgent complaints. About three-quarters of those who purchased drugs on stock therefore procured over-the-counter medicines for diseases that were not acute. More than 80 percent cited the fear of supply shortages as the reason. Only a third acted on advice from their doctor or pharmacist.

One in five respondents also said that a desired drug had not been available in the past eight weeks – especially for over-the-counter products. However, a majority of 57 percent assume that the availability of medicines is assured.

There is no reason to stock up on medicines if the doctor or pharmacist does not advise to do so, emphasized Hubertus Cranz, Chief Executive Officer of the BAH. “In many cases, only the disproportionate purchase of medicines that are not needed leads to short-term supply bottlenecks at the expense of other patients.”