Binge Drinking

Post According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about one out of six adults in the United States is a binge drinker. Results http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2012/t0110_binge_drinking.html from a 2010 telephone survey show that more than 38 million U.S. adults are binge drinkers, defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks in a short period of time for men and four of more for women. The average frequency of binge drinking was four times a month, the study found. Key findings include: Overall, about 1 in 6 U.S. adults surveyed said they had binged on alcohol at least once in the previous month, though it was more than 1 in 4 for those ages 18 to 34. Excessive alcohol consumption, including binge drinking, accounts for an average of 80,000 deaths and 2.3 million years of life lost in the united states each year and costs the U.S. an estimated $223 billion dollars in 2006 or about $1.90 per drink. Binge drinking is responsible for over half of deaths, two-thirds of the years of potential life lost and three-quarters of the economic costs that are due to excessive drinking. Binge drinking was most common among those in the 18 to 34 age group but the frequency was higher among those over age 65. It was most common in the Midwest, New England, Washington, D.C., Alaska and Hawaii, the survey found said. Men were twice as likely as women to binge drink, according to the study Binge drinking is more common among Americans with household incomes of $75,000 or more per year. The study also found that Americans with household incomes of less than $25,000 per year consume more drinks when they binge drink, averaging eight or nine drinks per binge. Yours Bernd