Binge Drinking

Various bottles of Alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol may qualify as binge drinking if it leads to at least two days of inebriation and the drinker neglects usual responsibilities. The British Medical Association states that "there is no consensus on the definition of binge drinking. In the past, 'binge drinking' was often used to refer to an extended period of time, usually two days or more, during which a person repeatedly drank to intoxication, giving up usual activities. The Journal of Studies on Alcohol defines binge drinking as an extended period, typically at least two days, during which time a person repeatedly becomes intoxicated and gives up usual activities and obligations in order to be intoxicated. Authors are required to restrict the use of the term to be consistent with that definition in papers it publishes. The International Centre for Alcohol Policies says that diverse definitions of binge drinking exist. Within the field of epidemiology, for example, there is disparity regarding the amount of alcohol that needs to be consumed in order to be drunk. One of the commonly used thresholds for 'binge' drinking is 5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more for women per occasion. Over some objection,

The British Medical Association concludes that in common usage, binge drinking is now usually used to refer to heavy drinking over an evening or similar time span - sometimes also referred to as heavy episodic drinking. Binge drinking is often associated with drinking with the intention of becoming intoxicated and, sometimes, with drinking in large groups. It is sometimes associated with physical or social harm.

Britain is known for its binge drinking culture, here are some rough examples of how many units are in typical drinks:

• Half a pint of beer or cider = 1.5 units;
• A small glass (125ml) of wine = 1.5 units;
• A single measure of spirits (e.g. whisky, vodka, rum or gin) = one unit.
• The number of units can vary according to the brand of drink and whether you're male or female.

According to the Institute of Alcohol Studies , young people in the UK are the third worst binge drinkers in the EU. What's more, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that over 50% of 15 to 16 year-olds have participated in binge drinking, and another report showed that 44% of 18 to 24-year-olds are regular binge drinkers.

• Accidents happen. If you're completely wasted you're more likely to harm yourself by falling into bushes or stepping out into moving traffic. Drunken drivers are another clear hazard, especially if you've gone along for the ride, and as alcohol affects judgement you may well agree to something you'd never do sober. It's estimated that alcohol features in 20-30% of accidents, and if you're comprehensively slaughtered from a holiday binge session then obviously things are more likely to go wrong for you.

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