Binge drinking is a hot topic in many news sources, from blogs to television. Its effects can be extremely damaging, but what exactly is the definition of binge drinking?
Alcohol is a part of our social fabric, with people enjoying drinks with friends after work, while watching sports and while celebrating happy occasions. But how much is too much?
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), binge drinking is defined as drinking five or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting (for men) or four or more drinks at a time (for women). Many binge drinkers consume even more drinks than that – the CDC study found that American binge drinkers are drinking an average of eight alcoholic drinks (beers, glasses of wine or shots of liquor) each time they binge drink.
Here are some other facts:
• Many people associate binge drinking with kegs of beer at college parties – but according to the CDC, Americans age 65 and over binge drink most often.
• Most binge drinkers are not alcoholics. Just because you binge drink doesn’t mean you’re an alcoholic. Instead, binge drinking appears to be an occasional overindulgence that can affect anyone, even if they are not addicted to or dependent on alcohol.
• Binge drinking puts people at higher risk for 54 injuries and diseases. These include car crashes, violence (such as drunken bar fights) and sexually transmitted diseases (since people who are heavily intoxicated are more likely to make risky decisions).
