Toasted, blitzed, can't feel your cheeks and an all time favorite, lit up like a firecracker. All these are ways to describe having too much to drink. But how many equals too many and what is the line that is crossed into binge drinking territory and is no longer just a few with buddies? To give you an idea, 75 percent of the alcohol consumed in the U.S. is during binge drinking sessions. No one is saying that you can't drink, but knowing the line between moderation and ending up in an emergency room or worse.

Drinking heavily and binge drinking are two different things, but both can lead down a dangerous path. For women, it means having more than three (3) drinks a day or 21 drinks per week. For men, that means more than five (5) drinks a day or 25 drinks per week. The quick definition of binge drinking is five (5) or more drinks in a single setting. This is a pattern that brings your blood alcohol content (BAC) to 0.08 or above. BAC takes the number of drinks you have and your weight into consideration. And while you may be remembering some old fraternity or sorority days where this seemed "normal", you should know that 70 percent of binge drinking occurs in adults, those over the age of 25.

Besides a drunk driving violation, there are other long-lasting effects of binge drinking. From falling down the stairs to domestic violence to drowning there are the visible physical effects. Internally you are contributing to high blood pressure, dementia, neuropathy and stroke. Don't forget about the liver damage like alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. And those are sure to counteract any fun you have out with your friends.

Signs of alcohol abuse include:
*Drinking excessive amounts frequently
*Drinking and driving
*Problems with social relationships

Symptoms of alcoholism include:
*Craving alcohol
*Loss of control when drinking
*Increased tolerance
*Physical effects when drinking stops: sweats, shaking, nausea etc.


You can check out our Web site, hap.org, for a free and confidential alcohol screening. Talking to your physician about any alcohol-related questions you have is a great place to start.

Written by Karen Cashin of Health Alliance Plan. For more information, click here.