This document defines binge drinking and discusses its negative consequences. It notes that binge drinking is consuming 5 or more drinks for men or 4 or more drinks for women within about 2 hours, bringing blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or higher. Some key points made include: - Over 50% of alcohol consumed by US adults is in the form of binge drinks. - Binge drinking increases risky behaviors like drunk driving and violence. It impairs decision making. - Negative consequences of binge drinking include injuries, alcohol poisoning, unsafe sex, health issues, and legal and social problems. - Binge drinking more often than not results in negative emotions like guilt and shame.

1. Presented by: Rincon Family Services

2. A pattern of drinking that brings a
person’s blood alcohol concentration
(BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or
above. This typically happens when
men consume 5 or more drinks, and
when women consume 4 or more
drinks, in about 2 hours.

3. • 1 in 6 adults binge drink about
4x/month (Consuming about 8
drinks per binge)
• About 92% of U.S. adults who
excessively drink, report binge
drinking in the past 30 days
• 70% of binge drinking episodes
involve adults 26+ years
• Prevalence of binge drinking among
men is 2x the prevalence among
women
• Binge drinkers are 14x more likely
to report alcohol-impaired driving
than non-binge drinkers
• About 90% of the alcohol consumed
by youth under 21, is in the form of
binge drinking
• More than ½ the alcohol consumed
by adults in the U.S. is in the form of
binge drinks

4. • Binge drinking influences the ability to make smart decisions and promotes risk taking and
violence.
• Poor decisions such as those involving short-term rewards coupled with long-term losses
are made.
• There are many high-risk activities that might seem like fun when you’re drunk but can
have serious consequences.
• More likely to engage in high-risk drinking that may result in hospitalization; use illicit
drugs; drive dangerously; behave violently; and, engage in unwanted or dangerous sexual
activity. Drinking too much may encourage you to start fights about things that might not
seem important the next day.
• People who binge drink may experience embarrassment over behavior, unwanted and/or
risky sexual behavior (pregnancy, STD, etc.), a criminal record, injury or a serious vehicle
accident.
• Problems have been associated with mental skills such planning for the future, abstract
reasoning, inhibiting or delaying responses, doing two things at once and shifting between
activities.
• Alcohol lowers inhibitions, and some people are more likely to make poor decisions such
as saying or doing inappropriate things, texting or calling people you shouldn’t, posting
pictures or videos on a social networking site that really don’t need to be broadcasted,

5. • Problem Drinker:
– May be physical dependency or may go days or weeks without alcohol, but
drink a lot at one time.
– Developed pattern of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in one sitting
• Social Drinker:
– Drink alcohol responsibly in
a safe way
– Drink moderately by consuming reasonable amounts
in responsible situations
– Doesn’t develop a pattern of drinking over a period of
time and doesn’t drink too much at one time

7. • Short-term memory loss and forgetting events
that occurred while drinking.
• Activity: assume the role of someone who has
been binge drinking. The rest of the group will
read a sign describing a specific behavior that one
of you displayed while you were drinking. Treat
the volunteer according to the role he/she has
assumed. Give hints about events that occurred,
without being obvious or directly stating what
happened.

8. • Binge drinking more
often than not results in
negative emotions.
What are some negative
emotions you have
experienced while
excessively drinking?
• Negative emotions can
range from guilt, shame,
embarrassment,
remorse, etc.
Unintentional injuries (car crash, fall, burn,
drowning)
Intentional injuries (firearm injuries,
sexual assault, domestic violence)
Alcohol poisoning
Sexually transmitted diseases
Unintended pregnancy
High blood pressure, stroke, other
cardiovascular diseases
Liver disease
Neurological damage
Sexual dysfunction

10. • What are some events that may
involve alcohol? What are some
irresponsible ways to handle those
events? What is a responsible way
to handle them?
• Activity: Develop a safety plan for
people attending a gathering that
may involve alcohol. What is the
event? Where is it taking place?
Who is attending? Describe:
– Preventive strategies to avoid
problems
– Potential problems that may
occur
– A plan of action for responding
to difficult situations