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How to Stop Binge Drinking

How to stop binge drinking is an important question worth an answer. Binging on alcohol is the act of excessive episodic drinking to the point where one gets a hangover for a few days. It is the rapid consumption of alcohol within a limited time frame to get drunk.

  • The NIAAA defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent or above. It typically happens when people drink at the rate of more than one drink per hour.
  • Most people who binge drink are not technically alcoholics.

Alcohol is the most abused recreational drug in the United States.

Since it is so popular, people do not think of alcohol as a drug. They do not realize that it is so dangerous for their health.

  • It is the third leading preventable cause of death in the U.S.
  • Binge drinking will have adverse effects on your health.
  • Reducing the amount of alcohol taken or quitting will give you a healthier lifestyle.

Steps

Since binge drinking does not necessarily mean dependency, many people might not see a problem with their drinking.

  • Some signs of bingeing include blacking out and not sticking to their limits.

Stopping binge drinking all by yourself can be a daunting task. The first step is to recognize that you have a problem and need to do something about it.

  • There are several strategies that you can use to make sure you stop. Below are a few pointers to help you quit.

The first thing to do is to identify your triggers. Triggers generally refer to something that leads to starting your binge drinking session.

One common trigger for most people is peer pressure. It could be directly by having people encourage you to drink or be at a party, and everyone is drinking. For some people, depression and boredom can be a trigger. After identifying them, it becomes easier to avoid them.

If you decide to reduce your intake and not quit, be careful when drinking in public since drinks are not in standard quantities. Most binge drinkers do so because they lack knowledge. Paying close attention to drink size will help you accurately track how many drinks you have and know if you are going overboard.

You must understand you do not have to take alcoholic beverages. It is because there are so many non-alcoholic beverages other than water. You can drink soda or “virgin” versions of your favorite cocktails. Keeping tasty drink choices will help you quit.

Statistics

Download the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA information .PDF

According to the CDC:

  • One in six U.S. adults binges about four times a month, consuming eight drinks per binge.
  • It is more common among young adults aged 18–34 years.
  • People aged 65 and older report binge drinking more often—an average of five to six times a month.
  • Binge drinking is most common among householders with an annual income of more than $75,000.
  • Approximately 92% of U.S. adults, who drink excessively, report they have binged on alcohol in the past 30 days.
  • Although college students commonly binge drink, 70% of binge drinking episodes involve adults aged 26 years and older.
  • The prevalence of binge drinking among men is twice the prevalence among women.
  • They are 14 times more likely to report alcohol-impaired driving than non-binge drinkers.
  • About 90% of drinking by those under 21 in the United States is binge drinking.
  • More than half of the alcohol consumed by adults in the United States is in the form of binge drinks.
  • Bingeing is most common among younger adults 18–34 years old. More than half of binge drinkers are 35 and older.
  • It is twice as common among men than among women. Four in five total binge drinks are by men.

The NIAAA describes binge drinking as the event that leads to a Blood Alcohol Concentration count of 0.08% or even higher.

People consider binge drinking to be subjective since;

  • The alcohol capacity of a person
  • A person’s drinking habits
  • The degree of intoxication varies depending on country and culture

There is a limit that an adult should not drink beyond. 

  • For men, the limit is four standard drinks in one day and 24 standard drinks per week.
  • Women’s daily limit is three standard drinks and seven standard drinks a week.

The threshold for heavy drinking is higher when compared to binge drinking. High-risk drinking is alcohol abuse, but most high-risk drinkers do not show signs of alcohol dependency, and some could develop dependence over time.

High-risk drinking is influenced chiefly by culture and environment, unlike alcoholism which is affected by family history.

New research how to quit binge drinking