# Binge drinking **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 21, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618 "2014-04-21T16:28:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/21 "2014-04-21T18:40:30Z")
Well, just hope that when you land in jail for something you don’t remember that it is something that will not ruin your life. Jail is often too late to decide what to do. Just remember, no addict of anything can stop until it is self diagnosed. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/22 "2014-04-21T18:42:40Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Well, just hope that when you land in jail for something you don’t remember that it is something that will not ruin your life. Jail is often too late to decide what to do. > > Just remember, no addict of anything can stop until it is self diagnosed. Isn’t the fact that I am asking myself the question a good sign? I know lots of people who drink to excess way more than I do. They don’t consider themselves addicts. They really have no ability to look at themselves objectively at all. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/23 "2014-04-21T18:46:02Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > But on the other hand I am not sure I need to give up drinking for the rest of my life as I drink responsibly the majority of the time. I am wondering if I should instead focus on avoiding certain places/people/triggers that has led to this behavior in the past. You could try that. If it doesn’t work, you have your answer. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/24 "2014-04-21T18:46:30Z")
Does this drinking affect your job? Does this drinking affect your graduate studies? Are you an asshole to your friends when you’re drinking? Are you an asshole to women? Do you have someone to watch your back? Do you have blackouts? Do you drive in this state because you’re at a point where you don’t give a shit? Are you vulnerable to violence or robbery when you’ve had too much? Do you smoke at any time when you’re not on a binge? Honestly, it all sounds fine to me. I understand why you’re worried, but if it’s not impacting your life, it’s not impacting your life. And they just released a study that said hangover suffering does not lead to decreased drinking, so there’s no connection there. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/25 "2014-04-21T19:00:01Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Isn’t the fact that I am asking myself the question a good sign? I know lots of people who drink to excess way more than I do. They don’t consider themselves addicts. They really have no ability to look at themselves objectively at all. Bottom line: Binge drinking monthly is associated with a lot of bad long-term outcomes. And not a few bad short-term outcomes. Do some people outgrow binge drinking and go on to drink normally? Yes. Are all binge drinkers alcoholics? No. Are our nation’s jails and prisons heavily populated by people with a binge drinking history? Yes. Do a lot of folks with chronic alcoholic liver disease have a binge drinking history? Yes. Do a lot of folks who binge drink show such objectivity and insight into their drinking the way you do? Yes. Does that objectivity and insight shield them from the above bad consequences of binge drinking? No. My conclusion: Continued alcohol consumption in binge drinkers is a high risk/low reward proposition. Especially with the sort of history you describe. YMMV. Make your own choices, know your risks. To you and to others. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/26 "2014-04-21T19:00:21Z")
Does this drinking affect your job? Not really, but I have called in sick before when I was hungover. Just a few times over the years. I am considered a good employee. Does this drinking affect your graduate studies? No I am finishing earlier than expected. Are you an asshole to your friends when you’re drinking? No I am considered a “fun” drunk. Are you an asshole to women? No. Do you have someone to watch your back? Sort of, but they are drunk too. Do you have blackouts? No Do you drive in this state because you’re at a point where you don’t give a shit? Unfortunately I have but typically no. Are you vulnerable to violence or robbery when you’ve had too much? Not really, but I suppose the odds go up the later I am out. Do you smoke at any time when you’re not on a binge? Not anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/27 "2014-04-21T19:02:45Z")
Thank you Qadgop. I am considering not drinking at all. It would be weird telling my parents for example. Me and my dad for example like to try new beers and scotches. He would be very surprised to hear I quit. But the high risk/low reward really resonates with me. There is virtually just risk and no reward really. When I think of it like this it seems like the choice is obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Cerealbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Cerealbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerealbox)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/28 "2014-04-21T19:09:16Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > Change my statement to “drink to excess every few weeks.” I guess it’s possible that nearly all of my friends are alcoholics. But, I think that weakens the definition of “alcoholic” to the point of including so many people as to be pretty meaningless. > > Many people drink to excess every once in awhile. I don’t buy the argument that indulging in a binge occasionally means someone is an alcoholic and can’t ever drink again. Its hard to say, it really is. But generally I think that if you’re worrying you might drink too much, you are. To me, this sounds like the a baby drinking problem that is gonna take years to result in problems. But it really depends. Watch out. People will know if you have a problem before you do. Im not diagnosing anyone. Hell, with therapy maybe you could never develop a problem and get to drink til youre 70. I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/29 "2014-04-21T19:09:28Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > That’s sort of why I made this thread. Do I have some deep-seated issue that needs attention or am I just having fun once in a while? The fact that I feel guilty about it the next day and that it has affected my life (slightly) before leads me to think it is indicative of something going on. > > But on the other hand I am not sure I need to give up drinking for the rest of my life as I drink responsibly the majority of the time. I am wondering if I should instead focus on avoiding certain places/people/triggers that has led to this behavior in the past. I have no idea what role drinking plays in your broader life. I drink - sometimes to excess, usually not. I drink simply because it’s fun - both the social aspect and the buzz. I’ve never gotten in trouble with the law, picked fights with friends, been thrown out of bars, or stuff like that. If that kind of stuff were to occur I would definitely reevaluate. I’ve felt guilt when hungover in the sense that I wasted a nice Saturday nursing a hangover, but I’m not the type to do/say stupid things when drunk that would make me feel guilty the next day. I try to be aware of both the positives and negatives that come with drinking. At this point in my life, the positives outweigh the negatives. If at some point that changes, I will adjust my habits. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/30 "2014-04-21T19:12:27Z")
Everyone has to determine for themselves whether they have a problem or not. My personal definition is that the person in question can’t reliably predict what is going to happen when they start drinking. Many people set out to get trashed, and get trashed: mission accomplished. If you repeatedly set out to just have a good time and get trashed anyway, that’s something to think about. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/31 "2014-04-21T19:20:26Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Thank you Qadgop. I am considering not drinking at all. It would be weird telling my parents for example. Me and my dad for example like to try new beers and scotches. He would be very surprised to hear I quit. > . As a parent of someone with a drinking problem, I add that don’t let that stop you from telling your parents. Any father worth the title would be supportive and relieved, even if never thought you had a problem. No parent has ever said “I wish my kid never stopped drinking.” ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/32 "2014-04-21T19:27:16Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > As a parent of someone with a drinking problem, I add that don’t let that stop you from telling your parents. Any father worth the title would be supportive and relieved, even if never thought you had a problem. No parent has ever said “I wish my kid never stopped drinking.” You are right, of course. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/33 "2014-04-21T19:46:27Z")
How drunk do you get? Are you falling down drunk and in a blackout. I consider binge drinking taking place over a period of days or weeks in an almost constant state of blackout. It sounds to me like you may have some alcoholic tendencies. Time will certainly tell. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/34 "2014-04-21T19:56:43Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > How drunk do you get? Are you falling down drunk and in a blackout. I consider binge drinking taking place over a period of days or weeks in an almost constant state of blackout. It sounds to me like you may have some alcoholic tendencies. Time will certainly tell. Not falling down or blacking out. And it never goes over one night. Although that “night” bleeds into the morning at times. Not trying to make light of it though. I would say I have a large tolerance and can handle a rather large amount. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/35 "2014-04-21T20:22:39Z")
[This article describes someone who had a similar problem.](http://www.theonion.com/articles/recovering-alcoholic-doesnt-need-friends-to-have-a,35663/) Whether you have a “problem” largely depends on who you ask and their view on drinking in general. Some people think you should never have more than two drinks ever while others feel occasionally cutting loose is no big deal. Personally, I don’t think getting shitfaced once every few months is a big deal. Unless you are unable to go out and drink once every few months without getting shitfaced. Also, it is possible to hang out until 4:30 am drinking without getting totally shitfaced if you pace yourself (and eat something). ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/36 "2014-04-21T21:06:19Z")
There’s different levels. From what I’ve read so far, you might not have a problem. It could be just that you have hangovers after drinking. You’re not reporting bad behavior, blackouts, trouble with the law, etc. the night of the drinking. It seems your main problem is the next day. If so, your problem is easy to solve. Just try different drinks without mixing types until you come up with the type/amount that doesn’t cause you to have a hangover. For some people, it’s beer. I used to drink beer and the big advantage is that it’s not easy to drink a lot in a short period of time. You usually get really full before you get really drunk. For others, it’s hard liquor/cocktails with plenty of water. You’d be surprised at how different liquors affect you. Certain vodkas make me sneeze, for example. On the other hand, it could be the road to alcoholism. Just like the cigarettes, drinking usually leads to more drinking. At a certain point, you develop either a physical (alcohol addiction) or psychological (alcohol abuse) dependency. If you are starting to ask yourself (and others) “Do I have a problem?” most likely it’s this. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/37 "2014-04-21T21:17:20Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > When does this sort of behavior become a problem? IMNSHO, it’s always a problem. And I will give the most unpopular and yet most effective answer possible: stop drinking, period. Don’t put yourself in the situation where it can happen again, and the easiest way is simply to not drink. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/38 "2014-04-21T21:29:59Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I consider binge drinking taking place over a period of days or weeks in an almost constant state of blackout. That’s nice that you have your own personal definition of “binge drinking” but I believe the term has a fairly specific meaning; a certain number of drinks in a night (one for males and a different number for females). ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/39 "2014-04-21T21:39:02Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > Going out and having drinks every few weeks? I’m 30 and hang out with 25-35 year old young professionals. If that is alcohol dependency, apparently everyone I know is dependent on alcohol. This. I’m not seeing the big deal here. You’re not a terrible drunk, you don’t drink and drive, it’s not affecting your classes, and you only get drunk once every few weeks. In grad school my friends and I drank and smoked more often than you do. We were just having fun and blowing off steam. Ten years later, we’re all fine. I think you’re overthinking it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618/40 "2014-04-21T21:55:15Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > That’s nice that you have your own personal definition of “binge drinking” but I believe the term has a fairly specific meaning; a certain number of drinks in a night (one for males and a different number for females). Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of consuming five or more drinks (four for women) in a single occasion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binge-drinking/686618.md?page=3)