Important Facts for Alcohol Consumption - Binge Drinking
Definition
'''''Binge drinking''''' is defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level to 0.08% or above. This typically happens when men consume 5 or more drinks, and when women consume 4 or more drinks, on one occasion. It is listed as the percentage of survey respondents who reported binge drinking during the 30 days prior to the survey. [[img src ="https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/alcohol-screening-counseling/images/problem1_970px.jpg" width = "652" height= "455"]]Numerator
Number of survey respondents who reported binge drinking during the 30 days prior to the survey.Denominator
Number of survey respondents excluding those with missing, "Don't know/Not sure", or "Refused" responses.Data Interpretation Issues
As with all surveys, some error results from non-response (e.g., refusal to participate in the survey or to answer specific questions), and measurement (e.g., social desirability or recall bias). Error was minimized by use of strict calling protocols, good questionnaire design, standardization of interviewer behavior, interviewer training, and frequent, on-site interviewer monitoring and supervision.Why Is This Important?
'''''Binge drinking''''' is the most common pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States and those who binge drink tend to do so frequently and with high intensity.^1^ According to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive alcohol use is responsible for '''95,000 deaths in the United States''' each year, including 1 in 10 deaths among working-age adults aged 20-64 years.^2^ Estimates also suggest that 686 Utahns die from alcohol-attributable causes each year^3^ and Utah is ranked seventh in the nation for alcohol poisoning deaths.^4^ Excessive alcohol use is also associated with many health and social harms, including liver cirrhosis, certain cancers, unintentional injuries, violence and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Excessive drinking cost the United States $249 billion in 2010, which calculates to $2.05 per drink.^1^ In 2014, the cost of excessive alcohol use in Utah was estimated to be $1.2 billion.^5^ '''SOURCES''' # Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). ''Fact Sheets - Binge Drinking''. Retrieved from [https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm CDC] # Alcohol and Public Health: Alcohol-Related Disease Impact. (2021). ''Average for the United States 2011-2015 Alcohol-Attributable Deaths Due to Excessive Alcohol Use''. Retrieved from [https://nccd.cdc.gov/DPH_ARDI] # Alcohol and Public Health: Alcohol-Related Disease Impact. (2021). ''Average for Utah 2011-2015 Alcohol-Attributable Deaths Due to Excessive Alcohol Use''. Retrieved from [https://nccd.cdc.gov/DPH_ARDI] # CDC Vital Signs. (2015). ''Alcohol Poisoning Deaths Infographic''. Retrieved from [https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/alcohol-poisoning-deaths/infographic.html#infographic CDC] # Alcohol Abuse Tracking Committee, Utah Department of Public Safety. (2017). ''Alcohol Abuse Tracking Committee 2017 Report''. Retrieved from [https://dsamh.utah.gov/pdf/2017%20AATC%20Report.pdf Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health: DSAMH]Healthy People Objective SA-14.3:
Reduce the proportion of persons engaging in binge drinking during the past 30 days--adults aged 18 years and olderU.S. Target: 24.4 percent