Jonah Patel
Alcohol misuse, including binge drinking and heavy drinking, can lead to alcohol use disorder (AUD), often called alcoholism. While the number of drinks constituting alcoholism varies, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 recommend that women consume no more than one drink per day and men no more than two. Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more for men on the same occasion, while heavy drinking is eight or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more for men. Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of short- and long-term health issues, including accidental injuries, mental health problems, and various cancers. Thus, it is important to understand drinking limits and seek help if alcohol consumption becomes problematic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of drinks for women per day | 1 or 4 |
| Number of drinks for men per day | 2 or 5 |
| Number of drinks for women per week | 8 or 15 |
| Number of drinks for men per week | 15 |
| Binge drinking for women | 4 or more drinks in 2-3 hours |
| Binge drinking for men | 5 or more drinks in 2-3 hours |
| High-intensity drinking for women | 8 or more drinks |
| High-intensity drinking for men | 10 or more drinks |
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What You'll Learn
Binge drinking
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported that about 21.7% of people in the United States aged 12 and older engaged in binge drinking in the past month. While rates of binge drinking among preteens and teens are decreasing, it remains a concern. In 2023, 2.0% of 8th graders, 5.4% of 10th graders, and 10.2% of 12th graders reported binge drinking. Among young adults aged 18 to 25, the rate was 28.7%, and for full-time college students aged 18 to 22, 27.9% reported binge drinking in the past month. Binge drinking among older adults is also a concern due to the increased risk of medication interactions, health conditions, and accidental injuries.
High-intensity drinking is a more severe form of binge drinking, defined as consuming two or more times the sex-specific thresholds. This corresponds to 10 or more standard drinks for males and eight or more for females. The Monitoring the Future survey defines high-intensity drinking among adolescents as consuming 10 or more drinks for 8th, 10th, and 12th graders or 15 or more drinks for 12th graders in the past two weeks.
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Heavy drinking
Definitions and Guidelines
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and other organizations define heavy drinking in terms of the number of drinks consumed per day and week. For women, heavy drinking typically refers to consuming four or more drinks per day or eight or more drinks per week. For men, it is typically defined as consuming five or more drinks per day or 15 or more drinks per week. These thresholds are lower for women because alcohol distributes itself evenly in body water, and women tend to have proportionally less water in their bodies than men. As a result, women's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) tends to be higher, putting them at greater risk for alcohol-related harm.
Binge Drinking
Binge drinking is closely associated with heavy drinking. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines binge drinking as consuming five or more drinks for males or four or more drinks for females on the same occasion, at least once in the past month. Binge drinking is a significant problem among heavy drinkers, with 90% of them engaging in this behaviour. Binge drinking is also associated with immediate and long-term health risks, including accidental injuries, mental and physical health issues, and death.
Health Risks and Consequences
Recommendations and Support
Current research and guidelines recommend that individuals limit their alcohol consumption or abstain completely. Drinking less alcohol can improve health and well-being and reduce the risk of alcohol-related harms. For individuals who feel their alcohol consumption may be becoming a problem, seeking help from healthcare or mental health professionals is advised. Support organizations, such as the National Helpline for Mental Health, Drug, and Alcohol Issues (SAMHSA), are also available to provide assistance and referrals to treatment facilities and support groups.
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Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
The risk factors for developing AUD include genetics and family history, with hereditability accounting for approximately 60%. Mental health conditions and a history of trauma also play a role, with a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, associated with an increased risk of AUD. Additionally, individuals with certain personality traits, such as a "low level of response" or "high tolerance" to alcohol, may be at a higher risk for AUD as they tend to drink more and have an increased risk for alcohol-related problems.
The amount, frequency, and speed of alcohol consumption are also important factors in determining the risk for AUD. Binge drinking, defined as consuming five or more drinks for males or four or more drinks for females on the same occasion, increases the risk of AUD. High-intensity drinking, or consuming two or more times the binge drinking thresholds, further elevates the risk. Even low levels of alcohol consumption have been linked to increased risks for hypertension, arrhythmias, and cancers of the mouth, throat, and breast.
The signs and symptoms of AUD include consuming alcohol in greater quantities or for longer than planned, unsuccessful attempts to reduce alcohol use, and continued alcohol use despite the negative consequences on social, occupational, or health domains. Individuals with AUD may also experience withdrawal symptoms when the effects of alcohol wear off, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, and a racing heart.
Treatment for AUD typically involves behavioural treatments, such as alcohol counselling or talk therapy, mutual-support groups, and medications such as naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. Inpatient or outpatient treatment settings may be necessary, especially for severe cases of AUD, to ensure medical supervision and a safe withdrawal process.
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Alcohol-related health risks
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), heavy drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on the same occasion, i.e., within a couple of hours of each other. Binge drinking, a form of alcohol misuse, is defined as consuming five or more drinks for males or four or more drinks for females on the same occasion. High-intensity drinking is the consumption of two or more times the sex-specific thresholds for binge drinking, which corresponds to consuming ten or more standard drinks for males and eight or more for females.
Alcohol misuse, including binge and heavy drinking, increases the risk of alcohol-related harm, with the level of harm typically increasing with the amount of alcohol consumed. Even low levels of alcohol consumption have been associated with greater risks for hypertension, arrythmias, and cancers of the mouth, throat, and female breast. For instance, research has shown that even one drink per day can increase a woman's risk of breast cancer by 5% to 15% compared to non-drinkers. Alcohol consumption has also been linked to an increased risk of esophageal cancer, particularly in individuals with certain genetic variants that alter alcohol metabolism.
Excessive alcohol use can have immediate and long-term effects on both the drinker and those around them. It can negatively impact the brain, heart, liver, and pancreas. Alcohol interferes with the brain's communication pathways, affecting mood, behaviour, clear thinking, and coordination. Heavy drinking can lead to liver inflammation and various problems, while drinking a lot on a single occasion or over time can damage the heart, causing issues such as cardiomyopathy. Alcohol also causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances, which can lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation that causes swelling, pain, and impaired digestive function.
In addition to the physical health risks, excessive alcohol consumption is associated with mental health and behavioural conditions. It can increase the risk of developing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Alcohol misuse can also lead to alcohol use disorder (AUD) and worsen existing mental health conditions. Additionally, drinking alcohol can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis. Overall, the less alcohol consumed, the lower the risk of these health effects, and individuals can lower their health risks by drinking less or choosing not to drink at all.
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Alcohol drinking patterns
High-intensity drinking is a form of binge drinking that involves consuming twice the sex-specific thresholds. This means 10 or more standard drinks for men and eight or more for women. Heavy drinking is defined by the CDC as consuming eight or more drinks a week for women and 15 or more drinks a week for men. People who drink excessively, including binge drinking and heavy drinking, are at a higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD), previously known as alcoholism. AUD is characterised by alcohol consumption causing distress and harm and can range from mild to severe.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025, adults can choose not to drink or limit their intake to two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less a day for women. It is important to note that drinking less is better for health than drinking more, and even low levels of alcohol consumption have been associated with increased risks for hypertension, arrythmias, and cancers of the mouth, throat, and breast. Certain genetic variants that alter alcohol metabolism also increase the risk of esophageal cancer with increased alcohol consumption.
Additionally, individuals with a family or trauma history, mental health problems, or specific genetic variants are more prone to developing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Alcohol drinking patterns can vary, and it is essential to understand the drinking limits and associated risks to make informed decisions about alcohol consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no universally agreed-upon number of drinks that would constitute alcoholism. However, the CDC defines heavy drinking as eight or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more drinks per week for men. Binge drinking is also associated with alcoholism, and it is defined as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men in a span of two to three hours.
Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to both immediate and long-term health risks, including accidental injuries, worsened mental and physical health conditions, and death. Research has also shown a link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer in women.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterized by alcohol consumption that causes distress and harm to an individual's life. AUD can range from mild to severe and is marked by cravings, loss of control, and a negative emotional state when unable to drink. While alcoholism and AUD were previously used interchangeably, experts now view these terms as negative labels. Instead, professionals refer to individuals with AUD as having a medical problem that requires psychological and medical treatment.
Yes, there are certain circumstances where individuals should refrain from drinking alcohol. These include pregnancy, managing health conditions that can be worsened by alcohol, taking medications that interact with alcohol, and being under the legal drinking age. Additionally, individuals with a strong family history of cancer or AUD may choose to abstain to minimize their risk.
