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  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls binge drinking serious but preventable. It’s an issue that tends to affect people between the ages of 18 to 35. 

    Since binge drinking and alcohol abuse are widely preventable problems, the more information you have, the better. If you or a loved one struggle to maintain appropriate alcohol consumption, then it’s important to understand binge drinking and the effects of alcohol. 

    What is Binge Drinking? 

    Binge drinking refers to a pattern of excessive alcohol consumption over a short period of time. For example, young adults going to a bar one evening may binge drink alcohol if they have several drinks over the course of the night. 

    Binge drinking is different from what most people associate with alcohol use disorder; the person who binge drinks does not have to consume alcohol every night or even every week. 

    According to the CDC, on average, one in six binge drinkers only drink four times a month. It’s not about how often you drink, but about partaking in heavy drinking in a short time. 

    This is what it takes for binge drinking to occur:

    • binge drinkers raise their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to the legal limit of .08 percent in little time
    • the definition of binge drinking is five drinks in two hours for men 
    • for women, binge drinking is defined as four drinks in two hours 

    Health Effects of Binge Drinking

    Binge drinking comes with some potentially severe consequences: 

    • Drinking alcohol in a short time affects decision making, so you may decide to drive and put yourself at an increased risk of a motor vehicle accident. 
    • Heavy alcohol use also impairs judgement and can lead to unintentional injuries like falling or getting burned.
    • People who binge drink are at risk for alcohol poisoning, which is drinking a toxic level of alcohol; alcohol poisoning kills six people a day in the United States.
    • Some drinking episodes lead to blackouts and risky behaviors—for example, unprotected sex puts you at risk for sexually transmitted diseases and unexpected pregnancy. 
    • Women who binge drink when they are pregnant might suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth. They also put their baby at risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders or infant death syndrome.
    • Over time, binge drinking increases the risk of certain health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and liver disease.
    • Long-term effects of excessive drinking increase the risk of certain cancers such as liver, esophagus, mouth, breast, colon, and throat cancer. 
    • Drinking can lead to memory impairment, learning problems, and mental health issues.
    • Binge drinking can create a path to alcohol use disorder.

    College Students & Binge Drinking

    College is a time when many young adults binge drink. A 2018 National Survey found that 54.9 percent of students admitted to drinking alcohol, and 36.9 reported binge drinking in the previous 30 days. 

    The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that binge drinking in the United States is associated with over 1,500 college student deaths a year and almost 700,000 assaults. Binge drinking also plays a role in 97,000 sexual assaults, including date rape. 

    For parents with kids heading off to college, these are scary numbers and cause for concern for not only underage drinking, but drinking alcohol in general. 

    Binge Drinking Facts

    If someone who binge drinks doesn’t drink every day, why does it matter? The answer is there are risks that come with this pattern of behavior. 

    Anyone Can Do It 

    Alcohol abuse like binge drinking is a behavior linked to young people and college students, but it can affect anyone. 

    It’s reported that U.S. adults who binge drink tend to be between 18 and 35, and include more men than women. However, the United States has seen a recent increase in the number of women who report binge drinking.

    Binge Drinking Has An Economic Impact 

    Costs go beyond just the healthcare burden: binge drinking impacts the criminal justice system and employers, too. 

    A 2010 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests binge drinking costs the United States about 249 billion dollars a year, or about two dollars a drink. 

    Binge Drinking Is Not The Same As Alcohol Use Disorder

    Lots of people binge drink once in a while, and they don’t have alcohol use disorder. Someone who struggles with alcohol abuse tends to exhibit a pattern of behavior that suggests addiction is present. 

    A binge drinker who might have an alcohol use disorder, for example, doesn’t have control over the amount they drink. Once they start drinking, they continue until they get drunk even if they want to stop for the night. 

    Others who might not have a drinking problem may go months without drinking alcohol, but binge drink when they do. Even though it may not be a drinking problem yet, people who binge drink are at an increased risk of developing alcohol use disorder.

    Binge Drinking is Preventable

    Moderation should be the goal for anyone who picks up an alcoholic drink. If you drink, stick to one a day for women and two a day for men, even if you go out. If you have been a binge drinker in the past, it might be better to avoid alcohol consumption altogether. 

    Alcohol Abuse Treatment

    Ark Behavioral Health provides all levels of care for alcohol use disorder. We offer individualized treatment plans that include short-term detox programs, residential treatment, and other services to improve your mental health. 

    If you or someone you love is a heavy drinker or has a problem with binge drinking, please contact us today to learn more about our programs and services.

    Binge Drinking FAQ

    What’s The Difference Between Binge Drinking & Alcoholism?

    There are major differences between binge drinking and alcoholism. 

    Binge drinking is defined as a single drinking event where your blood alcohol concentration reaches .08 percent within two hours. 

    Alcoholism, on the other hand, is when you have an alcohol use disorder (AUD), or the inability to control your drinking despite negative consequences like job loss or relationship problems.

    Why Is Binge Drinking Different For Men And Women?

    Although men may be twice as likely to binge drink than women, women face higher health risks such as brain damage, heart disease, and liver damage when they drink large amounts of alcohol. 

    Since women are typically smaller than men, they can imbibe the same number of alcoholic drinks as men, yet face a greater risk of harm.

    What’s Worse? Binge Drinking Or Drinking Every Day?

    Whether binge drinking or daily drinking is worse really depends on how much alcohol you’re consuming. 

    Binge drinking is definitely worse than drinking one glass of wine every day, but drinking excessively every day can be worse than binge drinking once or twice a month.

    Learn more about Binge Drinking Vs. Drinking Every Day

    Is Going On A Bender The Same As Binge Drinking?

    No, going on a bender is not the same thing as binge drinking. An alcohol bender lasts at least 3 days while binge drinking involves consuming multiple drinks over a much shorter period of time. 

    Learn more about Alcohol Benders

    Is It Okay To Binge Drink Once A Week?

    Binge drinking once a week can cause serious health effects. You may be putting yourself at a higher risk for alcohol poisoning and unintentional injuries, as well as long-term effects like liver damage and mental health problems. 

    Young people who binge drink may have additional risks compared to adults.

    Learn more about Binge Drinking Once A Week

    What Happens To Your Body After Binge Drinking?

    Although one or two drinks can make you feel relaxed and confident, 4 or more can slow breathing, impair judgment, and lead to impulsive behavior. It can also impair balance, coordination, and movement. 

    Binge drinking can also increase blood pressure and affect heart, brain, and liver function. Even one binge drinking episode can cause alcohol poisoning, including a coma or death. 

    Learn more about What Happens To Your Body When You Binge-Drink Alcohol

    Is Binge Drinking Prevalent Among Teens?

    Underage alcohol use and binge drinking have been falling over time. In 2019, 18.5% of those underage drank alcohol in the past month. However, a large majority of those who drink underage are binge drinkers, around 11.1% of all those underage.

    Why Do People Binge Drink?

    People may binge drink for a number of reasons, including social reasons, mental health reasons, and problems with brain chemistry. 

    Binge drinking is widespread in the United States, especially among young people. Solutions to binge drinking range from spreading awareness about alcohol to enrollment in alcohol abuse treatment centers.

    Is There A Binge Drinking Disorder?

    There is no such thing as a binge drinking disorder. However, there is something called high-intensity binge drinking. 

    A binge drinker consumes 4 or 5 drinks during a short amount of time while a high-intensity binge drinker will consume twice or even three-times as many alcoholic beverages. Both binge drinking and high-intensity binge drinking can lead to alcohol use disorder (AUD). 

    Learn more about High-Intensity Binge Drinking

    What Is Heavy Episodic Drinking?

    While definitions may vary, heavy episodic drinking is the same as binge drinking. It is a common form of risky alcohol consumption in which a large number of drinks (four or five at minimum) are consumed within two hours.

    Learn more about Heavy Episodic Drinking

    Written by Ark Behavioral Health Editorial Team
    ©2024 Ark National Holdings, LLC. | All Rights Reserved.
    This page does not provide medical advice.
    Sources

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Alcohol Poisoning Deaths
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Alcohol Use in Pregnancy
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Binge Drinking
    Mayo Clinic - Alcohol Use Disorder
    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) - Fall Semester—A Time for Parents To Discuss the Risks of College Drinking
    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) - Drinking Levels Defined
    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - Alcohol Use
    The American Journal of Preventive Medicine - 2010 National and State Costs of Excessive Alcohol Consumption
    The National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus Magazine - How much is too much? 5 things you need to know about binge drinking

    Medically Reviewed by
    Manish Mishra, MBBS
    on September 22, 2020
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