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Drinking too much beer may qualify as binge-drinking if it leads to at least two days of inebriation and the drinker neglects usual responsibilities

Binge drinking is a period of continuing alcoholic intoxication lasting for at least two days, during which time the drinker neglects usual responsibilities. It is an activity that is sometimes associated with crime, particularly street fights after the closing time of clubs and bars. It can also be associated with alcohol-related traffic accidents, employment problems, legal difficulties, financial loss, family disputes and other interpersonal problems.

Definitions

The accepted clinical definition of binge drinking is a period of being drunk for at least two days during which time the drinker neglects usual responsibilities.

There are also non-medical, non-clinical definitions of what constitutes "binge drinking". It is is sometimes defined as drinking alcohol solely for the purpose of intoxication. Popular press accounts prefer to define it as a man consuming five or more drinks on one "occasion" and a woman consuming four or more drinks on one occasion. However, the so-called "occasion" can extend over an entire 24-hour period. The concept of a "binge" has been somewhat elastic over the years, implying consumption of alcohol far beyond what is socially acceptible. In earlier decades, going "on a binge" meant drinking over the course of days until one was no longer physically able to continue due to "blacking out" or total collapse. The usage is known to have entered the English language as early as 1854; it derives from an English dialectal word meaning to "soak" or literally "fill a boat with water" (i.e. "scuttle"). (OED, American Heritage Dictionary) A similar phrase might be "on a bender" or "on a drinking spree".

Research has found that almost half of persons labeled "bingers" on the basis of the five/four definition do not achieve a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher[1]. Therefore, by this definition, a drinker doesn't even need to be intoxicated to be labeled a "binger". For this reason the five/four definition has been criticized in scientific journals and by professional organizations[2].

However, the 5/4 definition is extremely simple, thus making it very easy to use as an enforcement or "crackdown" tool. Likewise, such a simple definition is far easier to use in popular press accounts of binge drinking, especially those that are meant to draw public attention to alleged "epidemics" of the practice in some segment of society, specifically at colleges and universities. In response to the 5/4 definition, the United States Department of Education stated

...using the 5/4-plus "binge" definition creates the errant belief that nearly half of college students use alcohol in a reckless and dangerous way. This puts pressure on campus and community officials to crack down, but at the price of alienating many students and faculty, who will then ignore prevention messages....

As a field, we have never defined alcoholism in terms of how much people drink, but in terms of the drinking's impact on their lives. Similarly, we need to define the campus alcohol problem in terms of consequences. The benefits to doing this are considerable. First, our work will be better grounded in good science. Second, we will avoid sensational headlines that create the grossly inaccurate impression that nearly half of college students are routinely drinking themselves into oblivion. Third, prevention specialists will be able to gather the political support required to push through the kinds of policy and enforcement changes that are necessary to address the problem.[3]

Other people consider such factors as social setting, how quickly the drinks were consumed, the type of drinks and perhaps even the drinker's age and body type when defining binge drinking. A problem with evaluating quantities of drinks consumed is that standard units of beer, wine and liquor (distilled spirits) must contain equivalent amounts of pure alcohol for proper comparison.

Binge drinkers are not necessarily alcoholics, although many alcoholics are bingers. While it is known that different people or ethnic groups have different capacities for metabolizing alcohol, these varying capacities do not avoid all health risks inherent in alcohol consumption. Alcohol abuse is associated with a variety of negative health and safety outcomes. This is true no matter the individual's or the group's perceived ability to "handle alcohol". The person who believes himself or herself immune to the effects of alcohol may often be the most at risk for health concerns or the most dangerous of all operating a vehicle.

According to the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the heavy chronic drinker who develops alcohol tolerance "does not experience significant behavioral impairment as a result of drinking." This is so "even at high blood alcohol concentrations (BAC's), which in others would be incapacitation or even fatal."

Nothing in this article should be interpreted as promoting the idea that it is acceptable to drive while intoxicated.

Prevalence of binge drinking

United States

College students are sometimes seen as having a propensity to binge-drink (under the disputable 5/4 definition), especially in the United States, despite the fact that the U.S. drinking age is 21. Common stereotypical participants include athletes and fraternity/sorority members, particularly after final examinations, sporting events, and during spring break, where there are generally no rules enforced, and men and women imbibe large amounts of alcohol, causing inebriation.

One common explanation of this alleged propensity for binge drinking (5/4 definition) is that many college students are living on their own for the first time, free of parental supervision, among peers, especially those of the opposite sex.

Some people argue that binge drinking happens in the U.S. not in spite of the strict underage drinking laws, but rather because of it. Proponents of a lower drinking age argue that strict drinking laws drive underage drinkers underground, instead of in a licensed establishment where they will be better supervised and under less pressure to binge. Proponents of the drinking age at 21 dismiss such arguments and argue that underage binge drinking should be curtailed through strict enforcement of the laws against it.

The U.S. state where binge-drinking is most prevalent is North Dakota, where the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that 31 percent of residents ages 12 and older had engaged in binge drinking, using the questionable 5/4 definition instead of the clinically-recognized definition, at least once in the last 30 days. This was attributed in the media to the fact that because they lived in North Dakota there was nothing else for them to do. The survey found that the lowest binge-drinking rate in the U.S. was in Utah; this is attributed in part to the large Mormon population there and some restrictive state laws.

Over 60% of college and university students are often reported to be "bingers", based on the five/four definition. However, when the recognized medical/clinical definition is applied, it appears that fewer than one-half of one percent of college students have binged in the previous year.

Canada

In Canada, binge drinking, especially among youth and university students, is a common phenomenon. Sometimes, binge drinking is accompanied by hostile behaviour and violence, as can be seen in the many Canadian bars and alcohol licensed establishments where fights abruptly break out. During Canadian university frosh weeks, such as at the University of Ottawa, student binge drinking is a notorious activity, drawing large numbers of students, mostly undergraduate, to downtown Ottawa (including districts such as The Market) where alcohol abuse is rampant. Ottawa, among other university towns and cities in Canada, contain student drinking sub-cultures, perhaps reflective of the larger society's tolerance for inordinate drinking.

Europe

In most of Europe, children and adolescents routinely experience alcohol much earlier than in the U.S., and often with parental approval and supervision. The drinking age in most countries is 18, and in many jurisdictions younger people can purchase certain types of alcohol in certain settings, such as in a restaurant with a parent. Parents may also choose to provide beverages such as diluted wine or beer mixed with lemonade (radler) with a meal to encourage responsible consumption of alcohol. For example the legal age for drinking and buying beer in Germany and The Netherlands is 16 years of age. It is generally percieved that binge drinking is more prevalent in Scandinavia and decreases the further down in Europe you get.

United Kingdom

In most European nations, binge drinking is usually seen to be less of a problem than it is in the United States. However, in the UK, some areas of the media are spending a great deal of time reporting on what they see as a social ill that is becoming more prevalent as time passes. In response, the government has introduced measures to deter disorderly behavior and sales of alcohol to people under 18, with special provisions in place during the holiday season. In January 2005, it was reported that 1 million admissions to UK accident and emergency units each year are alcohol-related; in many cities, Friday and Saturday nights are by far the busiest periods for ambulance services.

In 2005, the Licensing Act 2003 came into effect in the UK, partly intended to tackle binge drinking. Some observers, however, believe it will exacerbate the problem, especially with the advent of 24 hour licensing.

The culture of drinking in the UK is markedly different from that of most other European nations (although it is very similar to that of the Republic of Ireland). In mainland Europe, alcohol tends to be consumed more slowly over the course of an evening, often accompnanied by a restaurant meal. In the UK, by contrast, alcohol is generally consumed rapidly, leading much more readily to drunkenness. While being drunk in mainland Europe is widely viewed as being socially unacceptable, in the UK the reverse is true in many social circles. Particularly amongst young adults, there is often a certain degree of social pressure to get drunk during a night out. This culture is increasingly becoming viewed by politians and the media as a serious problem that ought to be tackled, partly due to health reasons, but mostly due to its association with violence and anti-social behaviour. The impression is often given that drinking in this way automatically leads to such behaviour, which, in fairness, is not actually the case for most UK drinkers.

British universities are a major culprit for binge-drinking in amongst their students. One university in the South East of England makes over £1.2 Million per annum from alcohol sales in the student union bar alone. The student unions have endless drinks promotions, and are fuelling the problem. British women are turning to binge-drinking in larger numbers than ever before. Some would argue that this is a sign of feminism, as women want lifestyles similar to men.

A famous French soccer player made some interesting comments about British women a few years ago:

"I was amazed when I came to this country at the way the women here behave,' he said. From London to Newcastle to Leeds to Manchester I saw women vomiting in the streets. It is disgusting the way they behave. In France the women will only drink a little bit. In this country the women try and keep up with the men, drink for drink. The women behave like men in sex as well as drink. In France they are much more sophisticated and modest. That is why I will not bring my children up here. I don't want my daughter to be an English woman."

Spain

Since the mid 90's there has been growing in popularity the so called botellón between the youth. This can be considered a case of binge drinking since most people that attend it consume 3 to 5 drinks in less than 5 hours.

New Zealand

Concerns over binge drinking by teenagers has led to a review of liquor advertising being announced by the New Zealand government in January 2006. The review will consider regulation of sport sponsorship by liquor companies, which at present is commonplace. (Stuff)

Source

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and alcoholism. Alcohol Tolerance (Alcohol Alert number 31 from NIAA). Washington, DC: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1996.

External links

winehands.com - life style website based around 'Edward Wine Hands'
Binge Drinking
Eliminating high-risk drinking: report
Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004 by the WHO.
Effects of drinking habits - a summary of the above WHO report by GreenFacts.

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 The culture of drinking in the UK is markedly different from that of most other European nations (although it is very similar to that of the [[Republic of Ireland]]).  In mainland Europe, alcohol tends to be consumed more slowly over the course of an evening, often accompnanied by a restaurant meal.  In the UK, by contrast, alcohol is generally consumed rapidly, leading much more readily to drunkenness.  While being drunk in mainland Europe is widely viewed as being socially unacceptable, in the UK the reverse is true in many social circles.  Particularly amongst young adults, there is often a certain degree of social pressure ''to'' get drunk during a night out.  This culture is increasingly becoming viewed by politians and the media as a serious problem that ought to be tackled, partly due to health reasons, but mostly due to its association with violence and anti-social behaviour.  The impression is often given that drinking in this way automatically leads to such behaviour, which, in fairness, is not actually the case for most UK drinkers.
-It could be argued that the binge-drinking culture in the UK is a sign of a morally-bankrupt nation.  Young and old boast about getting drunk, and drunken behaviour is socially encouraged.  The youth culture is largely obsessed with binge drinking, and the social scene revolves around alcohol.  Some British parents boast that their under-age children are getting drunk.
 British universities are a major culprit for binge-drinking in amongst their students.  One university in the South East of England makes over £1.2 Million per annum from alcohol sales in the student union bar alone.  The student unions have endless drinks promotions, and are fuelling the problem.  British women are turning to binge-drinking in larger numbers than ever before.  Some would argue that this is a sign of [[feminism]], as women want lifestyles similar to men.