Many of us have engaged in heavy drinking or know someone who enjoys an occasional binge-drinking session with their friends. There are many categories of alcohol use, ranging from light/moderate drinking to alcohol dependencies. While it can be a sign of alcoholism, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a person has an addiction. But you should also be aware that it may be a symptom of addiction – and even if it is not, there are numerous risks associated with binge drinking.

On this page you will learn what binge drinking is, what is considered binge drinking, how many units of alcohol is binge drinking, binge drinking facts, binge drinking health risks and effects, how to quit binge drinking and if your consumption has turned into alcohol misuse or alcoholism (alcohol misuse disorder), alternatives for binge drinking recovery.

What Is Binge Drinking?

Binge drinking is defined as consuming excessive amounts of alcohol within a short period or drinking to get drunk. This is defined as 6 units for women and 8 units for men. Of course, this can vary. Not everyone drinks the same way, and how much they can drink is determined by a number of factors, such as tolerance, metabolism, or even if they’re recently eaten.

Unlike alcoholics, binge drinkers have some control over their drinking, and can often go through extended periods of no alcohol without any problem.

Binge Drinking vs Alcoholism

To understand the different levels of (problematic) drinking, you should first understand the difference between binge drinking and alcoholism.

Binge drinking, alcohol misuse and alcoholism are all different. Aside from definitions, this is shown in statistics: “The global status report on alcohol and health found that 39 per cent of all Irish people aged 15 and over had engaged in binge drinking.” –Ireland has the second-highest rate of binge drinking in the world. Whilst it was recorded in 2013 that “Among Irish drinkers aged 18–75 years, 6.9% scored positive for dependence. This indicates that there were somewhere between 149,300 and 203,897 dependent drinkers aged 18–75 years in Ireland in 2013.” – Source.

Alcohol Misuse vs Alcoholism

Alcohol misuse (or alcohol use disorder) is not necessarily alcoholism. Binge drinking can fall under the category of alcohol misuse. Someone who abuses alcohol most likely has a problem, but with the right motivation or treatment, they may be able to go back to drinking in moderation.

Alcoholism, or alcohol addiction, is a chronic illness. It is defined by the inability to control one’s drinking, strong cravings, preoccupation with alcohol, and continuing to drink despite negative consequences. Unlike someone who has simply developed a bad drinking habit, alcoholics cannot stop once they start. They cannot regulate their consumption. The only solution for them is to stop drinking altogether. Unlike someone with an alcohol misuse disorder, alcoholics need to find long-term sobriety.

Binge drinking: effects and health risks

Binge drinking or not, heavy or chronic alcohol consumption does take a toll on one’s mental and physical well-being. Of course, binge drinking can lead to alcoholism, but it can also lead to a number of other issues. The possible risks and effects are the following:

Accidents and bad decisions

Alcohol impairs your judgement and can lead you to make a number of poor decisions, which can also lead to other problems. This can range from engaging in unprotected sex to aggressive behaviour, to drink driving. Alcohol also causes balance and coordination issues, which can lead to falls or other accidents.
Brain damage

Excessive drinking, especially in the long term, damages the brain. Over time, a person will be likely to develop memory and/or concentration issues. This can affect their day-to-day functioning and productivity. Studies have shown that chronic alcohol misuse can lead to brain shrinkage, cell death, early-onset dementia, liver failure, and can be fatal. Brain damage can also aggravate already-present mental health issues, such as depression.
Other health risks

Heavy drinking damages other parts of the body as well. Some of the problems associated with long-term alcohol use include liver damage, diabetes and cardiovascular issues.
Overdose

At some point, a binge may lead to a blackout, and if alcohol blood levels rise high enough, an overdose. An alcohol overdose may cause a person to fall into a coma or stop their heart altogether. Alcohol also can depress one’s breathing, so if a person passes out, they may suffocate.

How to quit binge drinking: when should you seek help?

If you’re a regular binge-drinker or heavy consumer and have been wondering “am I an alcoholic if I binge drink” you should watch out for signs of alcohol misuse and alcoholism, so you can get binge drinking help as soon as possible. Addiction is best treated at the beginning.

Some signs that your drinking is becoming a problem are that you:

Cannot go an extended period without drinking
Have cravings for alcohol
Are preoccupied with planning your next drink
Cannot function normally without alcohol
Exhibit withdrawal symptoms or signs of physical dependency
Regularly black out or have memory lapses when drinking
Find yourself drinking alone, or in secret

While these signs do not mean you are an alcoholic, they do show that you have a problem that needs to be addressed.

If you are concerned about your drinking or how it is affecting you, you should take a step back and assess your drinking. Taking an alcohol assessment test can be a good start.

Schedule your alcohol assessment test here

You can also contact Smarmore Castle Private Clinic if you are concerned about your own or someone else’s drinking. Our staff are available to answer any questions you may have.

Take A Step Towards Recovery

Call us Contact Admissions

We thoroughly assess each patient in order to build a comprehensive, personalised treatment plan.

Dig deeper

Frequently Asked Questions

What is considered binge drinking?

Binge drinking is consuming excessive amounts of alcohol within a short period of time, typically drinking to get drunk.
Am I an alcoholic if I binge drink?

Not necessarily. It can be a sign of alcohol misuse, but it does not automatically mean you have alcoholism. However, it can develop into a more serious problem.
How to quit binge drinking?

You should assess your drinking habits, look out for signs of alcohol misuse, take an alcohol assessment test, and seek professional support if needed.

The difference between binge drinking and alcoholism