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Binge drinking: the facts

Around 40% of patients admitted to A&E are diagnosed with alcohol-related injuries or illnesses, many of which result from binge drinking.

What is binge drinking?

The NHS definition of binge drinking is drinking heavily in a short space of time to get drunk or feel the effects of alcohol. 

The amount of alcohol someone needs to drink in a session for it to be classed as ‘bingeing’ is less clearly defined but the marker used by the NHS and National Office of Statistics is drinking more than double the daily recommended units of alcohol in one session.  

The government advises that people should not regularly drink more than the daily unit guidelines of 3-4 units of alcohol for men (equivalent to a pint and a half of 4% beer) and 2-3 units of alcohol for women (equivalent to a 175 ml glass of wine). ‘Regularly’ means drinking every day or most days of the week.

Binge drinking for men, therefore, is drinking more than 8 units of alcohol – or about three pints of strong beer. For women, it’s drinking more than 6 units of alcohol, equivalent to two large glasses of wine.  

What’s the difference between drinking normally and binge drinking?

Two large glasses of wine may not seem like very much. But drinking six units of alcohol in a short space of time – an hour, say – will raise your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and could make you drunk very quickly. Drinking the same amount over several hours, and accompanied by food for example, will not have the same effect on your BAC.

What are the effects of binge drinking?

Some studies show that drinking a large amount of alcohol over a short period of time may be significantly worse for your health than frequently drinking small quantities.

Getting very drunk can affect your physical and mental health:

• Accidents and falls are common because being drunk affects your balance and co-ordination. You’re also more likely to suffer head, hand and facial injuries. Binge drinking has also been linked to self-harm .
• In extreme cases, you could die. Overdosing on alcohol can stop you breathing or stop your heart, or you could choke on your vomit.
• Nearly a third (29%) of alcohol related deaths are a result of alcohol related accidents. These deaths are more common among 16–34-year-olds.
• Binge drinking can affect your mood and your memory and in the longer term can lead to serious mental health problems.

More commonly, binge drinking can lead to anti-social, aggressive and violent behaviour.

Alcohol is a factor in:

• One in three (30%) sexual offences
• One in three (33%) burglaries
• One in two (50%) street crimes.
  

Binge drinking is most common among 16–24-year-olds , and is more common among men than women. The General Lifestyle Survey 2008 showed that 21% of men and 14% of women drank more than double the daily unit guidelines on at least one day in the previous week. However, in the last decade binge drinking among young British women has increased rapidly.

And binge drinking when you’re young can become a habit. Studies have shown that those who drink a lot in their teens and early 20s are up to twice as likely as light drinkers to be binge drinking 25 years later.

How can you tell if you’re a binge drinker?

Even if you don't drink alcohol every day, you could be a binge drinker if you regularly drink:

• to get drunk
• more than the daily unit guidelines in a single session
• quickly.
  

If you find it hard to stop drinking once you have started, you could also have a problem with binge drinking and possibly alcohol dependence.

Where can you get help with binge drinking?

We have features, tips and advice on moderate drinking in our ‘Why let good times go bad?’ section. There is also further information about binge drinking on theSite.org.

If you are worried about you’re drinking habits, contact your GP. They will be able to suggest ways to help you cut down your drinking, and can also refer you for counselling or support services.

You can also call Drinkline, the national alcohol helpline, on 0800 917 8282. It’s free and confidential.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a support group for people who are dependent on alcohol. There are branches all over the country. Call 0845 769 7555.

References

1. NHS Clinical Knowledge Summaries, alcohol misuse. http://www.cks.nhs.uk/patient_information_leaflet/Alcohol_misuse
2. NHS Choices – common questions about alcohol http://www.drinking.nhs.uk/questions/common-questions/
3. Ibid
4. NHS Clinical Knowledge Summaries, alcohol misuse. http://www.cks.nhs.uk/patient_information_leaflet/Alcohol_misuse
5. NHS Clinical Knowledge Summaries, alcohol misuse. http://www.cks.nhs.uk/patient_information_leaflet/Alcohol_misuse
6. Binge Drinking and Public Health – a briefing from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. July 2005. www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_offices/post/pubs2005.cfm
7. Ibid
8. Ibid
9. Ibid
10. ‘Young people who binge drink are likely to continue into adulthood’, BMJ, http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/330/7495/809-a