What is Binge Drinking?
Binge drinking refers to the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in one sitting.
We often think of this as a teenage or young adult activity. However, it is prevalent with older adults, when finishing entire bottles of wine at dinner parties with friends and partners
A question often arises regarding the definition of binge drinking – what constitutes the number of drinks in a binge-drinking session?
There is currently no worldwide consensus on this amount, given that everyone has different levels of alcohol tolerance. In Australia, the NHMRC revised guidelines suggest that men and women shouldn’t drink more than 4 standard drinks a day.
Why do we binge drink?
Frequently, we’ll find a situation in which the aim is to ‘celebrate’ or ‘cut loose’. This can be where it’s expected that people drink to get drunk. Drunken behaviour is either tolerated or celebrated – maybe it’s part of a bonding experience or a way to relax. Often, we don’t really think it’s unusual or problematic if it’s all around us and everyone is doing the same.
Other reasons for binge drinking may be psychological – where it’s being used as a coping mechanism or to self medicate negative emotions. The guilt of having a drink may even drive people to drink again, creating a situation whereby they begin drinking to excess.
Is it bad for you?
It can be—especially over time. While some people may brush off binge drinking as “just blowing off steam,” the risks are very real. Excessive drinking can lead to:
- Blackouts or memory loss
- Poor decision-making and risk-taking (like drink driving or unsafe sex)
- Physical injuries—falls, fights, or accidents
- Alcohol poisoning
- Mental health struggles, including anxiety or depression the day after
- Strained relationships with loved ones
In extreme cases, binge drinking can lead to unconsciousness, where the risk of choking on vomit or suffering acute alcohol poisoning becomes life-threatening.