This was part of a thread that seemed to have run its course. There has been alot of press recently concerning Binge Drinking. My question to forum members is, what do you understand by the term Binge Drinking?

Good question, one which I feel might get a large response - providing the correspondents aren't too hung-over.

I reckon it's going out straight from work, so let's say 6pm, and between that time and last-orders, going from pub to pub in order to take advantage of their Happy Hour/BOGOF/All Drinks £1/Double Measure offers and getting as drunk as you can, as fast as you can.

It will mean the night ends with a kebab, an argument and probably an eruption of that night's content over the pavements of Sheffield - Carver Street probably.

It's also likely that at least 33% of the night is beyond recollection. And don't forget the extra brownie point for a night spent in the cells.

And yet, what might be deemed binge drinking to the Younger Element, might be a long night's drinking to me, minus the arguing and the vomit, and with a recollection rate of about 98%!

My only difference being that I've paid full price for my drinks because frankly, you'd have to pay me to get me into some of those pubs down town.

Here's a definition of binge drinking I found:

’a man who regularly drinks 10 or more units in a single session, or a woman who regularly drinks 7 or more units in a single session.’

Thats something like 5 pints ( tho only 4 pints of stella 'wife beater' artois )

I think that sounds about right.

Binge drinking is kind of drinking that the majority of us probably do. It consitutues drinking a large amount in one sitting. Although the scary thing is that it doesn't have to be that many drinks.

For example, going out on a Friday / Sat night.
Going to the pub for a quiz mid week.
Going for a meal with friends.

It is actually thought that binge drinking is more detrimental to health than the contanst drinking of small amounts (1 glass of wine every night).

I always associate the term 'binge drinking' with people who go out (generally weekends) and get totally and utterly drunk.

But I heard a doctor recently say that 'binge drinking' is any occassion when you drink more than the recommended daily allowance and that it is worse to do it only at weekends than every day of the week :confused:

Mind you, he probably meant spreading the total units of alchohol out over a week is better than drinking them all on one day/night, rather than drink a lot every night LOL

exactly what it says, drinking in a big binge rather than a few drinks throughout the week.
As the poster above said, 4 to 5 pints qualifies it as a binge, the malarkey with kebabs/fighting etc... is just an occasional consequence and the timing re: straight from work and/or the cost due to happy hours is completely irrelevant.

In fact, it can be binge drinking to stay in with a few friends and polish of several bottles of wine.

The location cost and timing is irrevelant, it's the quantity and time period that determine it.

In my opinion the binge drinking problem is not just caused by the alcohol alone.

I go out and binge drink (as the Government describes it) every weekend. However I never fight or cause any trouble.

This is probably because i'm a calm individual that avoids such trouble. In my opinion 95% of people are like me.

The troublesome ones, (The ones we routinely see on our screens beating the hell out of someone are different.) These people need to be banned from our town centres, they ruin it for everyone else.

What is it about these people that makes them feel that a good end of the night is kicking some poor blokes head into the pavement?

Are there any people here that do fight a lot after a night out? If so why?

it such a British thing to do as well. Does anybody know of any country in the world where binge drinking is such a problem? and why is it here ?

Every country i've ever been to has always had the nationals commenting on how much we drink.

Originally posted by tim_rutter
Here's a definition of binge drinking I found:

’a man who regularly drinks 10 or more units in a single session, or a woman who regularly drinks 7 or more units in a single session.’

Thats something like 5 pints ( tho only 4 pints of stella 'wife beater' artois )

I think that sounds about right.
If that's the case I used to binge drink every night of the week ( sometimes twice a night ;) ).

But then of-course, my motto used to be "The liver is evil, and must be punished." :twisted:

Oh how times change...

:(

It does seem te be a British trend to drink to excess. Its not like that in most of Europe or America.

Its seen as a good thing to get blind drunk in the UK. I don't know why. I have to admit, I've been one of those blind drunks - espesh when I was a student!

Originally posted by Lee1979
it such a British thing to do as well. Does anybody know of any country in the world where binge drinking is such a problem? and why is it here ?

Every country i've ever been to has always had the nationals commenting on how much we drink.
It is not just a British thing. Many of the northern eurpean countries have always drunk to excess. In Russia, and some former eastern bloc countries, beer was always thought of like a soft drink, and people would drink it on the way to work.
You have obviously never been out for a drink with any Austrailians either, which is a surprise as there are enough of them in sheffield. The capacity for the drinking of beer in one session is the highest among these people than any others have ever seen. They think it's hilarious that average pub going brits would only go out at 9 pm. They would start at 11 am.
In iceland beer was banned until recently, and I may be mistaken but in one of the scandinavian countries, they are only allowed to buy it from government shops. In germany they are well known for binge drinking, and beer festivals, have you never heard of Oktoberfest? They drink beer from huge 1 litre jugs.

not fighting afterwards doesn't mean it's not binge drinking. It just means you're not causing additional problems.
I qualify as binge drinking as well (without any of the social problems afterwards, I just go home happy). It does have a potential cost to society though in that I (and everyone else) would be healthier if we didn't do it, and thus be less of a burden (either now or later in life) on the NHS.


Originally posted by Mosey
In my opinion the binge drinking problem is not just caused by the alcohol alone.

I go out and binge drink (as the Government describes it) every weekend. However I never fight or cause any trouble.

This is probably because i'm a calm individual that avoids such trouble. In my opinion 95% of people are like me.

The troublesome ones, (The ones we routinely see on our screens beating the hell out of someone are different.) These people need to be banned from our town centres, they ruin it for everyone else.

What is it about these people that makes them feel that a good end of the night is kicking some poor blokes head into the pavement?

Are there any people here that do fight a lot after a night out? If so why?

Good point, and the Irish, they can put it away.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
It is not just a British thing. Many of the northern eurpean countries have always drunk to excess. In Russia, and some former eastern bloc countries, beer was always thought of like a soft drink, and people would drink it on the way to work.
You have obviously never been out for a drink with any Austrailians either, which is a surprise as there are enough of them in sheffield. The capacity for the drinking of beer in one session is the highest among these people than any others have ever seen. They think it's hilarious that average pub going brits would only go out at 9 pm. They would start at 11 am.
In iceland beer was banned until recently, and I may be mistaken but in one of the scandinavian countries, they are only allowed to buy it from government shops. In germany they are well known for binge drinking, and beer festivals, have you never heard of Oktoberfest? They drink beer from huge 1 litre jugs.

I have always struggled with the term binge drinking, but now I am happy with the following defenition.

Drinking over half your reccomended weekley alcohol intake in one session.

Originally posted by BruciesBabe
It does seem te be a British trend to drink to excess. Its not like that in most of Europe or America.
I have met many a french, spaniard, greek who puts away a bottle of wine a day. That certainly is binge drinking.

oh i know there are other countries that do it but is it done in quite the same way as us? at such a young age ? i know i was out every weekend with the sole purpose of getting hammered from the age of 15/16.

Alcohol, in common with other addictive, lethal drugs, should be prohibited by law, and the pushers should be summarily executed.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
I have met many a french, spaniard, greek who puts away a bottle of wine a day. That certainly is binge drinking.

this is true but i think binge drinking had become such an issue in this country because of the things associated with it as mentioned previously. People go out get hammered get into fights, cause trouble etc etc - this is not seen to the same extent in Spain, France or Greece where generally they'll sit in a bar/cafe all night and drink with friends - not pub crawl.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
Alcohol, in common with other addictive, lethal drugs, should be prohibited by law, and the pushers should be summarily executed.

Tongue in cheek I hope.

I'd advocate the opposite. Where it doesn't impact anyone else we should be free to kill ourselves with whatever recreational substance takes our fancy.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
Alcohol, in common with other addictive, lethal drugs, should be prohibited by law, and the pushers should be summarily executed.

Did it work in america when they banned it? Making drugs illegal in no way reduces their availability. It means that you are left with an unregulatad industry selling drugs mixed with poisons, with dealers getting v rich on the backs of the poor and little support for dependants. If people want to take drugs they will. Making it illegal will do nothing.

im drunk right now!

Originally posted by Lee1979
this is true but i think binge drinking had become such an issue in this country because of the things associated with it as mentioned previously. People go out get hammered get into fights, cause trouble etc etc - this is not seen to the same extent in Spain, France or Greece where generally they'll sit in a bar/cafe all night and drink with friends - not pub crawl.
Lee I would agree with you that it is an issue, but in my nearly 2 decades of drinking in town on saturday nights, I couldn't recall more than one occasion where I have seen any violence or fighting in sheffield. The only regular place I ever saw trouble is at the Big Tree when football was on, a place that I steer well clear of now that I am well over the age of 15.
So to conclude I think it is overblown by people (especially political people) looking for issues to complain about.

To my mind the only problems are :-
1) Lack of later public transport
2) Absense of public toilets at night
3) People being forced to drink up at the same time, and spilling out onto the streets at the same time.
4) Bar staff serving people who are already very drunk
5) pubs and bars which are excessively smokey
6) music which is so loud that you cannot have a conversation
7) lack of traditional pubs, many of which have been lost to formulaic bars and pubcos

Originally posted by muddycoffee
Lee I would agree with you that it is an issue, but in my nearly 2 decades of drinking in town on saturday nights, I couldn't recall more than one occasion where I have seen any violence or fighting in sheffield. The only regular place I ever saw trouble is at the Big Tree when football was on, a place that I steer well clear of now that I am well over the age of 15.
So to conclude I think it is overblown by people (especially political people) looking for issues to complain about.

I'd say that I see something (a fight or the aftermath) at least once in two times that I go out.
And a friend who worked at bar ice reported at least 1 fight every weekend, sometimes a mass brawl involving upto 5 or 10 policeman about once a month.

Originally posted by Cyclone
I'd say that I see something (a fight or the aftermath) at least once in two times that I go out.
And a friend who worked at bar ice reported at least 1 fight every weekend, sometimes a mass brawl involving upto 5 or 10 policeman about once a month.

You should probably try going to different places:).

I have never seen a fight in sheffield. I have seen many in durham - my home town. I think sheffield is statistically the safest city in england or summit.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
I have always struggled with the term binge drinking, but now I am happy with the following defenition.

Drinking over half your reccomended weekley alcohol intake in one session.
I'd prefer a definition with no external reference, how about

"Drinking over half your weekly alcohol intake in one session."

That's the binge element to me, not spreading out whatever you drink, just having it in one go.

In my opinion, 6 pints every night isn't binge drinking, but 6 pints on Friday and none the rest of the week is.

Obviously the quantity above is arbitrary, but you hopefully get the idea.

:)

Originally posted by foo_fighter
I'd prefer a definition with no external reference, how about

"Drinking over half your weekly alcohol intake in one session."

That's the binge element to me, not spreading out whatever you drink, just having it in one go.

In my opinion, 6 pints every night isn't binge drinking, but 6 pints on Friday and none the rest of the week is.

Obviously the quantity above is arbitrary, but you hopefully get the idea.

:)

No,it is definitely possible to binge drink every night of the week. However, once you start doing that you are encroaching more on alcoholism.

Originally posted by tim_rutter
You should probably try going to different places:).

I have never seen a fight in sheffield. I have seen many in durham - my home town. I think sheffield is statistically the safest city in england or summit.

i have seen fights in sheffield on nights out, not as many as my home town though, shef is obviously a very special city!!

but this issue is nationwide and if we had a look at stats i'm sure that fri/sat nights in cities and towns throughout the UK would show how much violence/breach of the peace etc is due to people being hammered.

Originally posted by tim_rutter
No,it is definitely possible to binge drink every night of the week. However, once you start doing that you are encroaching more on alcoholism.
I appreciate what you're saying Tim, but don't really agree, if you drink regularly it isn't a binge (to my mind anyway), whereas, only drinking 3 pints a week, but all of them on a Friday would be binge drinking (but within recommended limits).

My 2p.

:)

Originally posted by foo_fighter
I appreciate what you're saying Tim, but don't really agree, if you drink regularly it isn't a binge (to my mind anyway), whereas, only drinking 3 pints a week, but all of them on a Friday would be binge drinking (but within recommended limits).

My 2p.

:)

OK maybe you're right.

Not drinking much is drinking less than your daily binge amount. This can be done everyday or once a week so long as you don't go over you're weekly amount.

Drinking over you're weekly amount means you drink quite a bit.

Binge drinking is drinking over the binge amount infrequently (not daily)

Alcoholism is drinking over the binge amount daily - I think if anyone thinks that to avoid being termed a binge drinker by drinking that amount daily has some thinking to do (tho this process may be impaired by alcohol slightly) :)

I sit happily in the binge drinker bracket :thumbsup:

Originally posted by tim_rutter
Alcoholism is drinking over the binge amount daily -
I would disagree with that. Alcoholism is when alcohol becomes too important in your life. If you can happily do without alcohol for a week or two then you have nothing to worry about. If you need to drink to get to sleep every night, then you are well on the way to full blown alcoholism.

I feel I must get involved again. As you may know if you are a regular forum contributor I am a recovering alcoholic. I run a Sheffield base group of recovering alcoholics. If you are alcoholic, you are alcoholic. I know a person that has not had a drink for 40 years but is alcoholic so time has no bearing on the phrase 'binge'. If that person tasted alcohol they would drink themselves into a stupor in a short period of time.

There are 3 general stages of the struggle of alcohol, Social, where you drink as it says socially, habitual, where you must get peed every Friday Night or need a whisky to get to sleep and dependancy, where you need a drink to go out for a drink!

For many years I drank over 1000 units per week. I retained a marriage and worked in a senior position as a civil engineering manager. I was a functioning alcoholic.

I know of recovering alcoholics that drank more than that over a number of years. I have no figure for those other than recovering alcoholics.

Was I a binge drinker? You tell me.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
I would disagree with that. Alcoholism is when alcohol becomes too important in your life. If you can happily do without alcohol for a week or two then you have nothing to worry about. If you need to drink to get to sleep every night, then you are well on the way to full blown alcoholism.

Ok its more that I can't really comprehend this idea that if you binge drink every day then it isn't binge drinking. If it isn't, then it is definitely drinking too much! (I'm not preaching, i've was a student not so long ago :D)

BoppinBruce, you said it better than anyone else could.

I don't think you sounded like a binge drinker, rather, someone who liked to keep themselves topped up.

Whereas, when I binge drink, I tend to go from sober to drunk in a short space of time. At worse, I find myself putting away pints every 10 or 15 minutes, when out.

When I'm in the house and I am having a drink while using the computer, 2 or 3 pints will last me all night. And when I'm in another civilised country where you don't wait at the bar to get served, you sit down and they bring you a drink to a table, I also drink much more slowly.

I feel like I have achived something, however when I have had a week of less alcohol. When I have got to friday, and had my last drink last saturday, I give myself a pat on the back.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BoppinBruce
[B]I feel I must get involved again. As you may know if you are a regular forum contributor I am a recovering alcoholic. I run a For many years I drank over 1000 units per week. I retained a marriage and worked in a senior position as a civil engineering manager. I was a functioning alcoholic.

Bruce, as I understand it, there are about 7 units of alcohol in a bottle of wine (at about 12.5% proof). If you were drinking over 1000 units a week, that's equivalent to over 20 bottles of wine a day. Don't you mean over 100 units? If not, you deserve a place in the Guiness book of records

Muddy, thanx for that. The group I am involved with produce a leaflet to help you control your drinking habit if you feel it is getting out of control. It is supported by Substance Abuse Team, Sheffield, Sheffield Alcohol Advisary Service, MIND, Hallamshire Hospital, NSDAP, SHARE, and countless Gps, social workers and Health Centres thru-out Sheffield

If anybody requires a copy there will be no preaching, just pm me and I will forward one to you and that will be that.

Chavs old fella. It was 3 ltrs of vodka a day, everyday, then to the pub in the evening.

I would stop at Morrisons, not locally I must stress, and have a 70ml bottle of vodka at 08.00. When I arrived at work at 08.25 I had drunk it.

Is that binge drinking?

Bruce, I was not doubting at all that you were a binge drinker. I was questioning the 1000 units a week. I wish you all the best in your continuing sobriety.

Regards,

LC

Chavs old bean, Ta awfully. Myself and my group, of over 60 in Sheffield, sponsered by Alcohol Concern, are all cool and if anyone needs advice or any info just pm me

Originally posted by BoppinBruce
...It was 3 ltrs of vodka a day, everyday, then to the pub in the evening...

...Is that binge drinking?
I would still contest not, because it was regular, not a "binge"...

...alcoholic, yes...

...I really don't know how someone at those levels would ever technically binge (by my proposed description of binge anyway).

Either way up, glad you got it under control, and best wishes for the future.

:)

Originally posted by foo_fighter
I would still contest not, because it was regular, not a "binge"...

...alcoholic, yes...

...I really don't know how someone at those levels would ever technically binge (by my proposed description of binge anyway).

Either way up, glad you got it under control, and best wishes for the future.

:)

This discussion seems to have degenerated into a discussion of semantics rather than a discussion of binge drinking. That may have been my fault! :) Binge drinking is a blight of society and causes a lot of violence/pools of vomit on sundays/vandalism/health problems. Alcoholism is entirely different - more of a personal problem that can be solved through counselling/discussion groups etc and I think maybe be slightly off the topic in this case (not to belittle your contribution BoppinBruce!) Which is why binge drinkers rather than alcoholics are the target of the government.

There'll be a 1001 opinions on what binge-drinking means but it's interesting to see how the doctors and the various organisations who disapprove of heavy drinking have jumped on the bandwagon.
Notice the stages.
Stage 1 ;- Say that binge drinking is anything above a level , set by doctors but way below what most social drinkers would call heavy or binge drinking.
Stage 2;- Organise some polls to show that millions of ordinary people are harming themselves by drinking x amount---even though they are happy with it.
Stage 3 Persuade the government that they would look good if they were to do something about this "growing and very serious problem ".
Stage 4;- Demand millions and millions of pounds from the government to expand the paper shufflers who will be needed to supervise whatever steps need to be taken.
Stage 5. Sit back and laugh as millions of pounds of tax-payers money cascades into your lap for your increased staff levels , your promotions and your pensions.
Stage 6 Gasp with surprise as the Great British Public believe all this twaddle you've fed them and try to look concerned and intelligent as they say , "Yes , yes " and pay up.
The only people who ought to be controlled in their drinking or as a consequence of their drinking are the moronic goons who make city centres unhinhabitable every Friday and Saturday night. If all the doctors and agencies were really serious about the evils of drink they'd concentrate solely on the scum heads and leave the other 95 % of drinkers to get on with their lives.

Originally posted by foo_fighter
I would still contest not, because it was regular, not a "binge"...

...alcoholic, yes...

...I really don't know how someone at those levels would ever technically binge (by my proposed description of binge anyway).

Either way up, glad you got it under control, and best wishes for the future.

:)

Doing something on a regular basis doesn't stop it being a binge. I could binge on chocolate every night if I were so inclined (or female and that time of the month).


I was working that 1000 units backwards and came up with nearly 5 75cl bottles of whiskey a day. Which is pretty close to 3 ltrs of vodka.

binge
1) A period of unrestrained, immoderate self-indulgence.
2) A period of excessive or uncontrolled indulgence in food or drink

So, nothing about timeframe or regularity in the definition of a binge, just the fact that you throw moderation to the wind and carry on with whatever it is until your sated.

As to going out in a different place. I tend to go to the city centre, the Corner House, the Devonshire Cat, places on west street and sometimes the show case cinema bar. Short of staying at home I doubt I could choose 'safer' drinking places.

Originally posted by Cyclone
Doing something on a regular basis doesn't stop it being a binge. I could binge on chocolate every night if I were so inclined (or female and that time of the month).

binge
1) A period of unrestrained, immoderate self-indulgence.
2) A period of excessive or uncontrolled indulgence in food or drink

So, nothing about timeframe or regularity in the definition of a binge, just the fact that you throw moderation to the wind and carry on with whatever it is until your sated.

Firstly, apologies for the imminent bout of pedantry.

Second,

Binge: drinking bout ; spree

(Spree: drinking bout)

Bout: spell of or turn at work; spell of drinking or illness

Spell: turn of work; short or fairly short period

Source: Concise Oxford Dictionary.

Now, I don't know about you, but I'd define 3 litres of vodka a day as "continuously" drunk, not a "binge".

;)

Originally posted by foo_fighter


Now, I don't know about you, but I'd define 3 litres of vodka a day as "continuously" drunk, not a "binge".

;)

However drinking 6 pints a night every night is binge drinking because you consciously start and stop drinking every day.

Originally posted by tim_rutter
However drinking 6 pints a night every night is binge drinking because you consciously start and stop drinking every day.
But what we are really talking about is what the media and gov't refer to as "binge drinking", and as we know, they are refering to people who go out, at weekends, and cause problems...

...that fits in much better with my definition of "binge", than 6 pints every night in the local.

:)

I would say that binge drinking involves bouts of heavy drinking (which can last days or weeks) followed by periods of sobriety or light drinking. A classic example of a binge drinker is (was?) George Best. I think Dylan Thomas was another example (although apparently it didn't take much to get him drunk).

First the man takes a drink
Then the drink takes a drink
Then the drink takes the man

i think this is still a description of a differing form of alcaholism...

binge drinking does not necesarily have to be a certain amount or over a certain period. It is simply drinking much more than you normally do in a short period of time, and usually involves drinking more than you can handle. It is not limited (nor does it disclude) those who drink vast amounts. I believe the official definition is anyone who drinks more than half of their weekly intake in one sitting, but i could be wrong.

Originally posted by theadore
I believe the official definition is anyone who drinks more than half of their weekly intake in one sitting, but i could be wrong.
If you read back through the thread, this is one of the points being debated.

:)

Originally posted by foo_fighter
Firstly, apologies for the imminent bout of pedantry.

Second,

Binge: drinking bout ; spree

(Spree: drinking bout)

Bout: spell of or turn at work; spell of drinking or illness

Spell: turn of work; short or fairly short period

Source: Concise Oxford Dictionary.

Now, I don't know about you, but I'd define 3 litres of vodka a day as "continuously" drunk, not a "binge".

;)

I wasn't arguing for the 3ltrs of vodka a day as being an example of binge drinking. It's clearly a far worse problem than that.

By your definition though, I could stop being a binge drinker by simply drinking every night of the week.
In my opinion I would be binging every night of the week, whether it's regular or not.
Afterall, a week is simply a man made thing. The regularity of your binge, be it daily, weekly or monthly does not alter the fact of it being a binge.
If it is continuous, as per an alcoholic then I agree that it's no longer a binge as no definable begining or end exists.

There is a difference between episodic heavy drinking and regular heavy drinknig. The term spree drinking is sometimes used to refer to the former.

Both types are potentially damaging to one's health and to other aspects of our personal life.

Originally posted by Cyclone
By your definition though, I could stop being a binge drinker by simply drinking every night of the week.
Correct...

...and now I will refer you to my earlier post,
Originally posted by foo_fighter
But what we are really talking about is what the media and gov't refer to as "binge drinking", and as we know, they are refering to people who go out, at weekends, and cause problems...

To me binge drinking is drinking way more than you can handle in the 1 sitting. The people you see falling about at closing time, barely able to walk, puking in the street etc on a Friday night are certainly on a binge in my opinion. I wouldn't condsider them to be alcoholics though.

And you can be an alcoholic and go on binges. You don't have to drink every day, you can have periods/days of sobriety then go on a 3 or 4 day bender, drinking excessively to the point that you 'lose' days and have no recollection of what you have been doing. I would say then that person was on a binge.

However, I don't think that functioning alcoholics that regularly comsume X amount of alcohol (even if this is in excess of 1000units a week) can be said to be on a binge. They maintain a steady intake of alcohol, and while the amount consumed may seem massively high to others with a much lesser tolerance, that quantity is their 'normal'.

I think that the quantities of alcohol involved are irrelevant - is it more than you can normally handle? My definition of a binge is to drink way in excess of what you personally would normally consume.