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Related Experiment Videos

Defining binge drinking quantities through resulting blood alcohol concentrations.

J E Lange1, R B Voas

  • 1Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Calverton, Maryland, USA. lange@pire.org

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors : Journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors
|January 5, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Current binge drinking definitions may not capture excessive drunkenness. Studies show that consuming 5 or more drinks may not lead to high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels, suggesting a need for revised definitions.

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Area of Science:

  • Alcohol Research
  • Public Health
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Binge drinking is commonly defined as consuming 5 or more alcoholic drinks in a single occasion.
  • The current definition's effectiveness in capturing the concept of excessive drunkenness has not been empirically validated.
  • Understanding accurate definitions is crucial for public health initiatives and alcohol-related harm reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether the standard definition of binge drinking (5+ drinks) optimally captures excessive drunkenness.
  • To assess the relationship between self-reported drink consumption and measured blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
  • To explore factors that might influence BAC levels in social drinking contexts.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted random interviews with individuals leaving bars in Tijuana.

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  • Collected self-reported number of drinks consumed and measured blood alcohol concentration (BAC) using breathalyzer tests.
  • Analyzed data to compare self-reported consumption with measured BAC levels.

    • Main Results:

    • The standard definition of binge drinking (5 or more drinks) was associated with relatively low BACs.
    • Current definitions may not adequately represent the 'excessive drunkenness' implied by the term 'binge drinking'.
    • The duration of alcohol consumption emerged as a potential factor influencing BAC levels.

    Conclusions:

    • The widely accepted definition of binge drinking may not accurately reflect levels of intoxication.
    • Further research is needed to refine definitions of binge drinking to better capture excessive drunkenness.
    • Consumption patterns, such as duration, play a significant role in alcohol's physiological effects.