Definition: What is Binge Drinking?

Excessive alcohol consumption, also called binge drinking, is a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings the blood alcohol level concentration (BAC) to 0.08 or above. For the typical adult, this pattern corresponds to 5 or more drinks (male), or 4 or more drinks (female), in about 2 hours. (NIAAA definition).

A “drink” refers to half an ounce of alcohol (e.g, one 12-ounce beer, one 5 ounce glass of wine, or one 1.5 ounce shot of distilled spirits).

This amount is enough alcohol to impair judgment, impede coordination, remove inhibitions, cause slurring of words—and potentially put someone at risk of serious health or social consequences, lasting brain damage and even death.