Estimated blood alcohol levels reached by "binge" and "nonbinge" drinkers: a survey of young adults in Montana.
The authors examined estimated blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) reached by so-called "binge drinkers" and "nonbinge drinkers" using a survey of young adults (age 18-24 years) in Montana. One third of drinkers were classified as "binge drinkers" the last time they consumed alcohol, using a gender-specific definition commonly applied to young adults: for men, having 5 or more drinks in a row, and for women, having 4 or more drinks. BAC levels were estimated on the basis of length of drinking episode, gender, weight, and typical alcohol consumption level. Among "binge drinkers," 63% did not reach .10% BAC or higher, 48% did not reach .08% BAC or higher, and 30% did not reach .06% BAC or higher. Of the "nonbinge drinkers," 7% reached .06% BAC or higher and 4% reached .08% BAC or higher. These findings underscore the potential problem of using binge drinking as a description and shorthand measure of drinking to intoxication.
Perkins
H W
HW
Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Montana State University, Geneva, New York 14456, USA. perkins@hws.edu
Linkenbach
J
J
Dejong
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009009:Montana / Q000453:epidemiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol