Binge Drinking

Signs of binge drinking include:

• Drinking more than you planned or more often than you planned.
• Drinking early in the day.
• Feeling defensive about your drinking.
• Not being able to slow down or stop your drinking.
• Needing more alcohol to get the same effect.
• Giving up activities you enjoy to spend more time drinking.

Binge drinking is the most common and costly pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States. Binge drinking is defined as consuming 5 or more drinks on an occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on an occasion for women.

Most people who binge drink are not dependent on alcohol. However, binge drinking is harmful on its own. It is associated with serious injuries and diseases, as well as with a higher risk of alcohol use disorder.

How common is binge drinking?

• One in six US adults binge drinks, with 25% doing so at least weekly.
• Binge drinking is just one pattern of excessive drinking, but it accounts for nearly all excessive drinking. Over 90% of US adults who drink excessively report binge drinking.

Who binge drinks?

• Binge drinking is most common among younger adults aged 18–34.
• Binge drinking is more common among men than among women.
• Binge drinking is most common among adults who have higher household incomes ($75,000 or more), are non-Hispanic White, or live in the Midwest.
• For some groups and states, binge drinking is not as common, but those who binge drink do so frequently or consume large quantities of alcohol.

Excessive drinking both in the form of heavy drinking or binge drinking, is associated with numerous health problems, including:

• Chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis (damage to liver cells); pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas); various cancers, including liver, mouth, throat, larynx (the voice box), and esophagus; high blood pressure; and psychological disorders.
• Unintentional injuries, such as motor-vehicle traffic crashes, falls, drowning, burns, and firearm injuries.
• Violence, such as child maltreatment, homicide, and suicide.
• Harm to a developing fetus if a woman drinks while pregnant, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Alcohol use disorders.

Everyone can contribute to the prevention of excessive alcohol use.

You can:

• Choose not to drink too much yourself and help others not do it.
• Check your drinking, and learn more about the benefits of drinking less alcohol.
• If you choose to drink alcohol, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed.
• Support effective community strategies to prevent excessive alcohol use, such as those recommended by the Community Preventive Services Task Force.
• Not serve or provide alcohol to those who should not be drinking, including people under the age of 21 or those who have already drank too much.
• Talk with your healthcare provider about your drinking behavior and request counseling if you drink too much.

Every family is unique, but all families share a bond that can be used to support one another during trying times.

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for helping a family member who is drinking too much, using drugs, or dealing with a mental illness, research shows that family support can play a major role in helping a loved one with mental and substance use disorders.

Find tips for starting a conversation or for locating resources to assist your loved one from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) HERE.

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