Understanding Binge Drinking

What Is Binge Drinking?

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The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%–or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter–or higher. For a typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming five or more drinks (male), or four or more drinks (female), in about two hours.1 Research shows that fewer drinks in the same time frame result in the same BAC in youth: only three drinks for girls and three to five drinks for boys, depending on their age and size.2 In the United States, a "standard drink" is defined as any beverage containing 0.6 fl oz or 14 grams of pure alcohol.

What are the Trends in Binge Drinking in Different Groups of People?

Although binge drinking is a concern among all age groups, there are important trends in the following groups. Visit Alcohol Facts and Statistics on Alcohol Use in the United States for more detailed information about the prevalence of binge drinking.

• Preteens and Teens: Rates of binge drinking among youth ages 12 to 17 are steadily decreasing, but more so for males than females. Additionally, alcohol is still the most commonly used substance in this age group.3 Binge drinking can affect how the adolescent brain develops.
• Young Adults: Rates of binge drinking among people ages 18 to 25 remain high. Levels are decreasing slowly, but mainly in males.4
• Older Adults: Binge drinking among older adults ages 65 and older is on the rise,5 which is of concern because many older adults use medications that can interact with alcohol, have health conditions that can be exacerbated by alcohol, and may be more susceptible to alcohol-related falls and other accidental injuries.

What Are the Consequences and Health Effects of Binge Drinking?

Although drinking any amount of alcohol can carry certain risks (for information on impairments at lower levels, please see the NIAAA BAC-level infographic), crossing the binge threshold increases the risk of acute harm, such as blackouts and overdoses. Binge drinking also increases the likelihood of unsafe sexual behavior and the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintentional pregnancy. These risks are greater at higher peak levels of consumption. Because of the impairments it produces, binge drinking also increases the likelihood of a host of potentially deadly consequences, including falls, burns, drownings, and car crashes.

Alcohol affects virtually all tissues in the body. Data suggest that even one episode of binge drinking can compromise function of the immune system and lead to acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) in individuals with underlying pancreatic damage. Over time, alcohol misuse, including repeated episodes of binge drinking, contributes to liver and other chronic diseases as well as increases the risk of several types of cancer, including head and neck, esophageal, liver, breast, and colorectal cancers.

Binge drinking can be deadly, contributing to many deaths each year through accidents and chronic health conditions. Binge drinking is also costly, contributing to health care and other costs.

What Is “High-Intensity” Drinking?

High-intensity drinking is defined as alcohol intake at levels twice or more the sex-specific threshold for binge drinking.6 This dangerous drinking pattern means eight or more drinks for women and 10 or more drinks for men on one occasion. Research suggests that high-intensity drinking peaks around age 21 and is most common among young adults attending college.7

This pattern of drinking is of particular concern because it is associated with an even greater risk of severe health and safety consequences. More research is needed to identify interventions that can be used to discourage this pattern of use.

For more information about binge drinking, alcohol use disorder, and available evidence-based treatments, please visit Rethinking Drinking and the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator.

References

1 NIAAA. [Internet.] Defining binge drinking. What colleges need to know now. Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health; 2007 Nov. [cited 2023 Feb 20]. Available from: https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/sites/cdp/files/documents/1College_Bulletin-508_361C4E.pdf

2 Chung T, Creswell KG, Bachrach R, Clark DB, Martin CS. Adolescent binge drinking: developmental context and opportunities for prevention. Alcohol Res. 2018;39(1):5-15. PubMed PMID: 30557142

3 Substance Use and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA), Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ). 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 2.44B—Alcohol use in lifetime, past year, and past month and binge alcohol and heavy alcohol use in past month: among people aged 12 to 20; by demographic characteristics, percentages, 2023 and 2024. Includes comparison with previous year data from the same tables. [cited 2025 Aug 12]. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2024-nsduh-detailed-tables

4 SAMHSA, CBHSQ. 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 2.28B—Binge alcohol use in past month: among people aged 12 or older; by age group and demographic characteristics, percentages, 2023 and 2024. Includes comparison with previous year data from the same tables. [cited 2025 Aug 12]. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2024-nsduh-detailed-tables

5 SAMHSA, CBHSQ. 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 2.9B— Alcohol, binge alcohol, and heavy alcohol use in past month: among people aged 12 or older; by detailed age category, percentages, 2023 and 2024. Includes comparison with previous year data from the same tables. [cited 2025 Aug 12]. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2024-nsduh-detailed-tables

6 Hingson RW, Zha W, White AM. Drinking beyond the binge threshold: predictors, consequences, and changes in the U.S. Am J Prev Med. 2017;52(6)717–27. PubMed PMID: 28526355

7 Patrick ME, Azar B. High-intensity drinking. Alcohol Res. 2018;39(1):49–55. PubMed PMID: 30557148