Binge Drinking Statistics

Binge drinking is defined as a common pattern of excessive alcohol consumption, and is often found to be the preferred method of drinking among teens and college students, according to recent binge drinking statistics. These numbers reveal that the number of college students and teens that binge drink also face serious consequences. Keep reading to find out more about this dangerous activity and more binge drinking statistics.

Binge drinking is the pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol level above 0.08 percent. In most cases, the average male can achieve this by drinking about 5 alcoholic drinks in a short period of time, usually about two hours. The average woman can also reach this blood alcohol level by consuming about 4 alcoholic drinks in a short time period, also about two hours. While many believe that those who binge drink are alcoholics or are alcohol dependent, that is not always the case. While many of those who partake in binge drinking activities are college students or teens, there are actually higher numbers of adults over age 26 who take part in binge drinking. However, according to recent binge drinking statistics, about 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by teens and young adults under age 21 is done in the practice of binge drinking.

Other binge drinking statistics:

• There are about 92 percent of adults in the United States who drink excessively (binge drink) on several occasions throughout the course of a month.
• While college students are notorious for teen binge drinking, the binge drinking statistics reveal that about 70 percent of binge drinking episodes are attributed to adults age 26 and over.
• Binge drinkers are about 14 more times likely to drive drunk than non-binge drinkers.
• Out of all alcohol consumption throughout the United States, about 75 percent of the alcohol drunk by adults in is the form of binge drinking.
• The age group most likely to drink excessively are those in the 18 to 20-year-old group with about 51 percent, according to recent binge drinking statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control.

There are many negative consequences involved in cases of binge drinking ranging from alcohol poisoning to death. There has been much media attention garnered toward binge drinking on college and university campuses throughout the country over the past few years with many deaths as a result of binge drinking being reported, according to recent binge drinking statistics. Other binge drinking consequences include cardiovascular problems like heart attack and stroke, impaired judgment resulting in sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy as well as neurological damage. Injuries, both intentionally and unintentional have occurred as the result of binge drinking, according to recent binge drinking statistics. Knowing and understanding the risks involved with binge drinking is vital in being able to prevent it and how to teach young adults how to drink responsibly.

Source: cdc.gov