What is binge drinking.....

[Loosehead]

Just been reading that 4 pints in one session is considered "Binge Drinking" What? I wouldn't bother going out for 4 pints, I've got a mate who will limit himself to 4 pints if he's driving. Anyone think this limit is a little too conservative? (note lefty's it's a small c)

[WaldoMcFroog]

If your friend goes driving with four pints under his belt, it's him who's the small c.

[Loosehead]

He's 22 stone, passed the breathalyser on 4 several times, barely shows a blip. You can drink a lot more than you think that's why I think the dd limit is too high but that's another discussion.

[WaldoMcFroog]

If he's such a great driver, why has he been breathalysed 4 times? Perhaps he's just unlucky, but doesn't it suggest something about his driving?

Regardless, how difficult is it to leave the car at home if you want to drink, ffs?

[youngmafbog]

I have to agree with you on that Waldo, however to answer the question I often wonder who comes up with these limits, doctors ? (some of which are the worst boozers I have met ! ) or people who would love a repeat of the US abolition.

Lets get real for most of us on a lads night out (and ladies night out judging from my wife) 4 pints (or equivalent) is an hour and half supping. I do not consider my self a binge drinker nor do I wish some do-gooder thinking he/she can tell me what is best for me.

My personal definition of binge drinking would be a large amount of alcohol drunk as fast as possible with the sole aim of getting drunk and no enjoyment whatsoever., e.g. downing shots one after the other.

[stevie21]

I'd agree that drinking to get drunk quickly is what I think of as binge drinking. If you go for a meal and all have some drink with it and end up drunk then I'd not count that - the alcohol isn't the focus of the night.

Also, with regards to the drink driving debate, I don't know why anyone feels the need to have any alcohol at all if they're driving. If we accept that the amount of alcohol required to make you even a little tipsy is enough to impair your driving then why drink an amount of alcohol that isn't sufficient to make you feel any different before getting in your car?
Are we drinking to enjoy the taste because your mate's 4 pints aren't seemingly to get drunk?

[Loosehead]

Waldo I didn't say he's a great driver or that he's been breathalysed 4 times, "...passed the breathalyser on 4 several times". He does 30000+ miles a year so is out there more often that's all, his licence is clean. Anyway I'd rather not turn this into a dd thread.

[WaldoMcFroog]

My apologies; I misunderstood. I stand by what I said about DD, though.

[Ding-Dong]

This is typical nanny state rollocks - by choice, I don't drink Monday to Friday, however, on Saturday I will consume enough alcohol to get **** faced: by definition, I am a binge drinker, even though this is done over a period of time, over a long meal and in convivial circumstances - but does getting drunk 1 day out of 7 really cause me a problem??? Well if it does, **** it, it won't stop me enjoying a good drink once a week.

That said, I've just come back from a lads long weekend in Budapest where a very large quantity of beer was drunk and, quite honestly, since I got back on Monday I've not felt great, so there certainly may be an argument concerning sustained heavy drinking, but to answer the original question, 4 pints is not bingeing, and to suggest such is utter tosh.

[Loosehead]

Thanks Ding-dong the voice of reason! I do about the same as you, teetotal in the week, considerably more than the guidlines at the weekend!

[coyn]

If I were to stick to what the doctors say (2 pints per night) I would get to the pub at 8.30 pm and be home for 9pm or alternatively I could pay for an optic full of that gooyey orange topped up with tap water (cost to the brewery 2 pence) cost to me �2.00

I'll stick with the 7 pints, but thats just me I'm not suggesting anyone should follow my bad example.

[Loosehead]

you mean 7 pints before you start on the large Vodka surely!

[trionam]

I would consider 4 pints to be what i'd have if it was just having a few pints after work, if i was out for the night I'd have a good bit more.not many people would be drunk after four pints so if your not drunk how is that binge drinking,by those guidlines you'd be binge eating if you had two bars of chocolate!

[Supernick]

I read the same report and the big question is why only a quarter of people are binge drinkers. 3/4 of the popluation never consume more than 4 pints in a sitting!! My Gran could (and would) do better than that, although probably in gin rather than lager. Lets be honest, not many people can seriously say they're not a binge drinker based on those rules.

[january_bug]

I recently re-registered with my doctor and had to have a grilling from the nurse. Because I don't go to the gym I was put down as "Avoids even light exercise" which made me angry. But I toldher that I hardly drink at all, and of course her first question was "do you drink heavily at the weekends though?". I said "No." She said "Yes, but if you have 3 or 4 drinks that's heavily". Judgemental cow!

The government is trying to stop me smoking and drinking, given that I don't do drugs, I'm single and don't sleep round, andI don't gamble, those two are my only vices - and they try to take them away from me!

No bloomin WAY. Patronising and ridiculous. They need to focus on drunk and disorderly people, not the rest of the nation who are just trying to wind down after a hard week at work. Raaaaaa!

[Loosehead]

Well we agree again JB! Frightening!

[january_bug]

Well Loosehead, I daresay that the reason why we have disagreed so much in the past, and thus have reached the conclusion that we always disagree, has more to do with the topics that have been up for discussion than our opposing ways of thinking. I can see why you came to the conclusion that I love the government and all that it and Blair stand for; based on some topics discussed that's possibly an impression I gave. Now that we've moved on to other areas, I'm sure you now see that there is a lot that this government does that I really do not agree with... and thus, perhaps, you and I have more and more in common. :-)

I really want to make a comment about drink driving, so perhaps I'll start a new thread! :-)

[Loosehead]

I'll look out for it, I've just started a thread in Body and soul you may have a view on, not politics!

[Octavius]

The definition is confusing, The Institute of Alcohol Studies (not your mates down the Dog and Duck) state that binge drinking is defined as the consumption of more than a certain number of drinks over a short period of time - a single drinking session or at least during a single day. In the UK drinking surveys normally define drink bingers as men consuming at least 8, and women consuming at least 6 standard units of alcohol in one day.

However elsewhere, the following limits are recommended:

Men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol per week, Women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week. One unit of alcohol is half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine.

Binge drinking is classed as consuming more than 10 units (4 or 5 pints) of alcohol in a single session for men and seven units for women.

When I went to the doctor last he told me I was in danger of becoming a binge drinker because I was averaging 3 pints a week in one session per week.