Binge Drinking Statistics

Binge drinking is often described as 'drinking too much'. While it doesn't have a universal measuring system, in US, for men it is having more than five standard drinks and for women it is having more than four standard drinks in a short span of time (around two hours). About 70 % college students have admitted that they have indulged in binge drinking at least once. Youngsters consider binge drinking as a part of modern culture and fun. The parties that the teenagers flock to, often have binge drinking competitions like beer pongs and doing kegstands. While all this may feel great right now but it can lead to alcohol addiction later in life.

Binge Drinking - The Statistics

• Binge drinking among adults in the year 2009 was about 15.2 %.
• Around 70% of the binge drinking episodes involve adults 26 years and older.
• Men often indulge in binge drinking as compared to women.
• Binge drinkers are 14 times more likely to report alcohol-impaired driving than non-binge drinkers.
• About 90% of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the United States is in the form of binge drinks.
• About 75% of the alcohol consumed by adults in the United States is in the form of binge drinks.
• The proportion of current drinkers that binge is highest in the 18 to 20 year age group (51%).

(Source : US Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

Health Issues Related to Binge Drinking

• Alcohol Poisoning - Drinking too much of alcohol depresses nerves that control body functions like breathing and gag reflex. Alcohol is an irritant to the stomach and a person who has had too much of it, tends to vomit it and if the person is intoxicated he/she may accidentally choke on vomit. This can lead to death by asphyxiation.
• Liver Diseases - Binge drinking causes cirrhosis of liver, that is, the liver is covered with scar tissues. If the drinking habits are not curbed then it can reach a stage where there is no cure. Besides, it also causes other liver diseases.
• Accidents - Drinking and driving is dangerous as studies have found out that alcohol features in about 20-30% of all the accidents. If you just had a heavy session of binge drinking and are behind the wheels, you will tend to do things which you will never do when you are sober. Drunken drivers are also a danger for pedestrians and other vehicles as chances are that the person will doze off while driving.
• Crime - In the 33% burglaries and 50% street crimes, attackers are found to be in inebriated condition. Also, violence in binge drinking parties is becoming a common occurrence these days.

Preventive Measures Against Binge Drinking

• Binge drinking among college students point out that teenagers indulge in binge drinking more often than any other age group and are exposed to it at a very early age. So, one of the preventive measures can be to limit the access to alcohol in college by having fewer stores selling alcohol near the college campus.
• Making the youngsters aware about the ill-effects of binge drinking can be very important to dispel ignorance about the subject.
• Proper screening and counseling sessions can also help in rehabilitation of those who have fallen off the wagon.
• Non government organizations can conduct seminars about binge drinking facts which can not only help youngsters but even the parents to keep a watchful eye on the symptoms of binge drinking.

Binge drinking in today's culture is thought of a fun activity and a person is advised to sleep off the intoxication. But as mentioned before, binge drinking can cause alcohol poisoning which can be fatal. So, if your friend has had too much to drink and passes out, do not assume it as just one of his hangovers, instead check for the symptoms and call in the doctor if necessary.

In the end, it can be said that although the teenage binge drinking statistics are alarming, we can still work on it before this issue spirals out of control and turns into serious alcohol abuse. Hope the statistics mentioned above make you aware about the threat it poses to the health of millions of people binge drinking out there. Efforts are needed both from parents and the community in the battle against alcohol abuse. As Jon Corzine, ex-governor of New Jersey said, 'we must do all we can to empower parents and communities to protect our youth and to encourage healthy behavior free from binge drinking and other forms of alcohol abuse', it will take a united stand from all of us to help spread the message about the effects of binge drinking.