According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking is defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level to 0.08 percent or more. It is the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020, United States Department of Health and Human Services and United States Department of Agriculture, moderate drinking is up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men.
A drink is defined as 12 ounces of a 5 percent alcohol by volume beer; 4 ounces of 13 percent wine; or 1.5 ounces of 40 percent distilled spirit.
Yes, binge drinking for women is consuming 4 or more drinks on one occasion and binge drinking for men is consuming 5 or more drinks on one occasion.
Binge drinking can harm your health. Short-term and long-term health risks are associated with binge drinking. Some short-term risks include injuries, alcohol poisoning and risky sexual behaviors. Some long-term risks include high blood pressure, cancer, alcoholism, social problems and mental health problems.
In Anne Arundel County, over half of the 18-25 year olds who drink are binge drinking and don’t realize it.
Yes, binge drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning – a medical emergency that results from high blood alcohol levels. Very high levels of alcohol in the body can shut down critical areas of the brain that control breathing, heart rate and body temperature, resulting in death.