Binge Drinking

Binge drinking means to drink heavily over several days. Now, however, the term refers to the heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time. Today the generally accepted definition of binge drinking is the consumption of five or more drinks in a row by men — or four or more drinks in a row by women — at least once in a period of 2 weeks. Heavy binge drinking includes three or more such episodes in 2 weeks.

The reasons for binge drinking are usually peer pressure and a false assumption that it will make the drinker feel good and stress free. It has also been seenthat binge drinking is more common in college hostels and with young people. Reasons for over indulging in alcohol could be many and they all directly or indirectly lead to the false feeling of goodness that it bestows on the drinker. But is the price that one pays due to binge drinking worth that momentary “High”?

Research and statistics have shown that people who abuse alcohol in excess even once in a week have low memory retention and their brain exhibits some deficits. It has also been noted that binge drinking increases aggression and impairs decision making. People who drink in excess once in a while are more likely to injure themselves and others by drunken driving than people who are habitual drinkers. Vomiting, loss of sensory perception and blackouts are the most serious pitfalls of binge drinking.

Like alcohol abuse, binge drinking is an addiction. The addict needs to be helped by a responsible adult like a parent, counselor or an older friend. A supportive person can help the addict to get a grip of himself when the pressure to binge drink builds up.