Alcohol-related deaths tend to deliver a different type of shock to family members as the death is completely preventable. Now, emerging news as to the type of drinking that is contributing to these deaths is gaining increased attention as it differs from once-common beliefs. According to recent reports from the All Gov website, more than 50 percent of all alcohol-related deaths in the United States were caused by binge drinking. Defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion for men and four for women, binge drinking was found by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to be more prevalent among men. The CDC relied on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey for 2004 to examine the differences in binge drinking. Researchers analyzed incidences according to sex, age group, race/ethnicity, education level and income level. Of those men more likely to binge drink, they were between the ages of 18 and 24, white and had household incomes of more than $50,000. Important facts from this study include:
- Men binged 24.3 percent of the time, while women only 7.9 percent
- Men binged 4.6 days of the month, versus 2.9 days for women
- Men had 8.3 drinks per binge, compared to 6.9 for women
- College level graduates were less likely to binge drink than high school graduates
- Those in the 18 to 24 age group had the highest prevalence of binging, as well as the highest average number of alcoholic beverages in their most recent episode
- Those 65 and older were the least likely to binge drink,
- When they did engage in binge drinking, the 65 and older set had the highest average number of binge drinking episodes.
Source: //www.allgov.com/ViewNews/Who_is_Binge_Drinking_90410