What is Binge Drinking?
‘Binge drinking’ means different things to different people. New Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines refer to binge drinking as ‘drinking too much on a single occasion of drinking’ rather than using the term ‘binge drinking’, but the meanings are generally the same.
Binge drinking increases the health risks of alcohol, including both short-term side effects and long-term consequences, and can harm both the drinker and their community.
Drinking too much ‘on a single occasion of drinking’ means drinking more than the recommended level for adults, which is of four (4) standard alcoholic drinks on any one occasion.
‘Binge drinking’ also refers to drinking continuously over a number of days or weeks, occasional and irregular bouts of heavy drinking or drinking to deliberately get drunk.
The risks of binge drinking
Binge drinking can be immediately and directly harmful to your health. It can expose you to injury or to unnecessary risks to yourself and to others.
If you drink to excess and misuse alcohol, you are likely to experience a number of physical effects, such as:
- Hangovers
- Nausea
- Shakiness
- Vomiting and memory loss
- Injury to yourself
- Alcohol poisoning
Alcohol is a major cause of injury and death among young people. When drunk, you are more likely to put yourself in risky situations; such as getting into a car with someone who’s been drinking or being the perpetrator or victim of violence.
It’s important to be aware of the facts about alcohol and the health risks of drinking. Follow the Australian Guidelines on drinking alcohol from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
