How do you define binge drinking?

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
I was reading wikipedia, and it said in the US many people use the "5/4" definition.
According to the 5/4 definition, a binge drinker is a man who consumes five or more alcoholic drinks on an occasion of unspecified duration and is a woman who consumes four or more drinks on an occasion of unspecified length.

But that really doesn't sound like binge drinking to me.
I always associated binge drinking with consuming an excessive amount of alcohol pretty much constantly for the duration of an evening (like constantly drinking for 6 hours).
 

mattocs

Platinum Member
Jan 25, 2005
2,246
0
0
I drink a case of beer per weekend, and I don't think that is binge drinking or exessive at all.
 

rgwalt

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2000
7,393
0
0
It depends on what an occasion is... Try this out:

Go to dinner at 6, have 2 glasses of wine (splitting a bottle for two)
Go to friends place before going out for the night, 8pm to 10pm, 1 drink per hour
Bar it up from 10 to 2, 1 drink per hour

You have just had 8 drinks over the course of 8 hours, which by the popular definition is binge drinking. However, 1 drink per hour is considered by most to be a good pace. I would be tipsy at the end of the evening, but I wouldn't blow over a 0.08. If you divide the evening into three seperate occasions, you wouldn't be binge drinking, but I consider it one occasion.

I think the definition needs a time specification.

R
 

meltdown75

Lifer
Nov 17, 2004
37,548
7
81
Hmm. I always thought it was getting hammered for a few nights straight. I guess it has more to do with how much you drink in one sitting.
 

BobDaMenkey

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2005
3,057
2
0
I define it as a damn long night of drinking, and being completely drunk off your arse at the end of it. If you can still walk without issues you haven't been binge drinking.
 

Wonderful Pork

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2005
1,531
1
81
i try and keep it at 2 beers per night, but if I dont drink during the week thats 14 beers per saturday. Is that binge drinking?
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
if you don't remember what you drank or where you drank it, you are problably a redneck..errr a a binge drinker.