Adult Drinking
Am I Binge Drinking?
The intention of this article is to look at the phenomenon, its statistics, its effects and how much alcohol it is safe to consume.
What is binge drinking? There is no standard definition of the term ‘binge drinking’, it is heavy consumption of alcohol, approximately 5 standard drinks (for men) and 4 drinks (for women) is considered to be a ‘binge’. The drinking becomes binge drinking if a large amount of alcohol is consumed in a short span of time. It is also called heavy episodic drinking.
Over recent years we have seen a heavy increase in binge drinking amongst women (from 8% to 15%), whereas in men over the same period it rose by just 1%. The biggest increase was in young adult women aged between 16 and 24 (rising from 7.3 units per week to 10.8) and those over 65! The incidence in men of the same age range fell by 9% over the same period. The rise in binge drinking amongst young adults could be explained by advertising, easy availability of cheap alcohol and greater disposable income. The British Government are currently looking at sanctions to impose a minimum price per unit of alcohol, based on evidence from those medical experts who have to deal with the consequences of binge drinking.
The most disturbing trend in binge drinking is that of 11-15 year olds – although fewer are drinking, those that do consume more than ever, some consume even more than their 16-24 year old counterparts. If you have children of that age, or who are approaching that age, then this statistic has to be worrying. These children are also shown to lose concentration in the classroom due to hangovers!
Drinkaware – a charity funded by the alcohol industry, have stated that the biggest increase in binge drinking has been amongst women, and said that “studies suggest women are more prone to liver disease after a comparatively shorter period of heavy drinking. Alcohol can also affect women’s chances of conceiving a child and can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer.” This cannot be good for the future health of our society members.
Another interesting fact is that when questioned, 77% of adults did not know what constituted a unit of alcohol. If we take wine – a 175ml glass of white wine is 2 units of alcohol, and two 125 ml glasses of white wine is 3 units. This is the upper limit for a woman wanting to avoid binge drinking. These facts also need to be considered when driving – the basic rule is if you are driving then do not drink.
Binge drinkers typically only drink once or twice a week. The effects of binge drinking however, can be alcohol poisoning (which may result in death), high blood pressure, liver disease, neurological damage, intentional & unintentional injuries, fetal alcohol syndrome (in pregnant women), dehydration and dry skin etc. 50% of street crime is attributed to binge drinking and on top of this, over 15,000 road accidents last year were also proven to be due to binge drinking.
So what is safe to drink? The experts say that women should not consume more than two units of alcohol per day (for men it’s 3), and that you should have at least 2 drink free days per week. A unit is half a pint of average strength lager, a 100ml glass of wine, or a standard 25ml measure of spirits or fortified wine. When pregnant – drink no more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week. (Heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause the baby to be born with a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS causes growth deficiencies, central nervous system defects, lowered IQ and facial malformations.)
If you do not feel drunk, then you have a high tolerance to alcohol – this does not mean that you should drink more. The alcohol still does the same damage to your body, it’s just that you do not notice it. If you think you may have a drinking problem then you should see your doctor or get in touch with your local branch of Alcoholics Anonymous.
When drinking, drink in moderation, only you know how much your body can tolerate. If you have a high tolerance to the effects of alcohol then you should count what you are drinking to ensure that you do not over drink and do your body damage. Enjoy your night out, or lunch, and enjoy your friends and family who are keeping you company – do not drink too much, or it could be the last night you spend with them.
With best wishes for a great and safe social life
Dale Preece-Kelly
More at http://www.selfhope.co.uk.
About the Author
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