What Is Binge Drinking?

There are many people who are able to drink in moderate and healthy amounts. However, there are also many people who are not. Though in some cases it constitutes an alcohol addiction, this is not always true. There are many people who do not have alcoholism that will participate in negative and dangerous drinking behaviour. One extremely common form of dangerous drinking is binge drinking.

Binge drinking is defined as consuming enough alcoholic beverages in a short period of time to accumulate a BAC of at least .08. This amount, when driving in the United States, becomes illegal, as the drinker is quite impaired in this state. The BAC stands for "blood alcohol content." This means how much alcohol is in the bloodstream? An individual with a BAC measured at .10 has a tenth of one percent of their blood's volume consisting of alcohol. This may not seem like a lot, but it is. To give you an idea, a BAC of less than .50, less than one half of one percent of volume, is considered the lethal dose of alcohol.

Many factors play into the BAC level. Averages that instruct how many drinks would reach a certain BAC are often vague, as there are so many variables. A person's weight can influence the number quite a bit. More weight and more muscle mass are able to better absorb the alcohol consumed. While the average person may be heavier, some people will be affected by less drinks, reaching a high BAC level after only a couple of drinks. Certain individuals simply have a higher or lower tolerance for alcohol than others. Also, the BAC gradually reduces over time. One of the best ways to ensure safety while drinking is to give each drink time before starting another. The time varies per drink, but it is suggested that each drink be equivalent to about an hour of drinking time.

Unfortunately, this guideline is rarely adhered to, as many drinkers are binge drinkers. Whether the individual is an alcoholic, with a disease causing them to be dependent on drinking, or simply has a habit of drinking in a dangerous manner, the situation can cause great harm. Often, people will advocate or encourage others to drink as quickly as possible, insisting that it is cool. In other circumstances, people will try to quickly consume as much alcohol as they can before heading to another establishment or event, possibly one where they can't drink. Often, individuals brag to one another about how many drinks they have consumed in one night, eliciting responses of laughter or admiration, rather than fear or concern. Our culture has a backward view of what is important and what is the healthy way to live. 

Whatever the case, it may be necessary to seek out alcohol treatment. It can be done in a residential treatment setting, or as an outpatient, while living in their own home. Either way, this process can greatly assist the drinker to see the consequences of their actions and avoid great possible dangers in the future. Binge drinking is a very serious occurrence and, if not approached in the correct way, could result in legal trouble, injury, or death. If you or someone you know is having difficulty with binge drinking, please find out more information about alcohol rehab, as it could save a life.

Binge Drinking on the Rise with Women

Binge drinking among college students is nothing new. For decades, the act of routinely drinking way too much has been glamorized among both college and high school students. Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks in one sitting. However, this amount is at the lower end of the actual number of drinks that college students are consuming when they go out partying. Some students admit to regularly drinking twenty or more alcoholic beverages in a night, putting them at risk for alcohol poisoning and injury, among a host of other problems that are associated with binge drinking.

Recent studies have shown that not only is this trend of heavy drinking not likely to taper off any time soon, women have begun to drink as excessively as their male counterparts. No longer is extreme alcohol abuse something only frat boys participate in, women are also participating in excessive alcohol consumption. This is dangerous for a number of different reasons. Not only do women typically weigh less and not metabolize alcohol as fast as men, they are putting themselves at risk to increased chances of heart disease, breast cancer, sexually-transmitted diseases, sexual assault and unplanned pregnancies by trying to keep up with the boys.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, roughly 1,500 student deaths, 500,000 injuries and 70,000 cases of sexual assault occur every year at the college level because of excessive alcohol consumption. It is estimated that nearly 50 percent of college students binge drink, participating in pregaming before going out to parties, drinking games, and the need to fit in with the rest of the crowd by drinking way too much. About 1 in 5 girls in high school and college binge drink, and it leads to nearly 23,000 deaths in women age 18 to 34 every year.

In addition to being a particularly dangerous activity to engage in at any age, binge drinking is also often the first step towards developing alcoholism for both men and women. What most young people fail to realize is that drinking excessively increases their tolerance and can lead to developing dependence on alcohol later on down the road. When men and women are dependent on alcohol, they find it hard to function in life without regular drinking. Having a few drinks every now and then is one thing, but drinking everyday and routinely consuming enough to put yourself in the hospital can lead to a long list of mental and physical complications.

Alcoholism is a deadly disease, and recovery is not an easy road. Many alcoholics never get professional treatment for their condition, and many even end up relapsing numerous times after attending rehab. Relapse is not the end, and people that struggle with alcohol addiction should not give up even if they do return to drinking after an extended period of sobriety. But the best prevention against alcoholism and other drug addictions is through educating the youths of America about the dangers of binge drinking, alcohol poisoning and alcohol addiction.