Binge Drinking: How Much Alcohol Is Too Much?

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” – Andy Warhol.

In 2023, an estimated 16.1% of Floridians surveyed participated in binge drinking. Whether or not you know your limits when it comes to alcohol, this type of drinking can be dangerous. In the short term, drinking like this can lead to alcohol poisoning or intoxication-related injuries. In the long term, this can have serious consequences for your health, and your wider life. If you notice yourself or a loved one drinking like this regularly, it may be a sign of an alcohol use disorder (AUD).

At Real Recovery Solutions, we understand that it’s all-too-easy to fall into the vicious cycle of AUD, and that recovery is a serious commitment that requires lasting support. We offer a 12-step-focused recovery program that delivers real results for people in Florida living with AUD.

So, let’s get into the dangers of binge drinking and what to look out for.

Understanding Binge Drinking: The Truth of the Matter

Many people in the United States consume alcohol regularly. But binge drinking is different from drinking a glass of wine with dinner or having a beer with friends. This is the mass consumption of alcohol to the point of heavy intoxication.

Drinking heavily on occasion does not automatically mean that you have AUD. Sometimes, people experiment with alcohol to learn their limits or get carried away on a night out, but regular heavy drinking is a sign of AUD.

Definition of Binge Drinking

Binge drinking occurs whenever you drink enough alcohol to bring your blood alcohol content (BAC) to the legal driving limit of .08% or higher. Generally, this is considered to be about four standard drinks for women or five for men, over two hours. The size of a standard drink depends on the type of alcohol you’re having.

A standard drink is typically:

• 12 ounces of beer
• 5 ounces of wine
• 1.5 ounces of hard liquor (vodka, gin, rum, etc.)

These are guidelines and do not necessarily apply equally to all people. Other factors, like height, weight, and even how much food you’ve had that day can play a factor in the speed at which alcohol is metabolized in the body.

How Common Is Binge Drinking?

Binge drinking is incredibly common. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 61.4 million people 12 or older in the U.S. had participated in binge drinking in the last month, which would be a little less than 23% of the population. The same report suggested that this type of drinking is most common among young adults ages 18 to 25, with almost 29% of this age group estimated to have been binge drinking within the last month at the time of this study.

The state of Florida is slightly lower than the national average with an estimated 16.1% of adults binge drinking in 2023, according to the state’s behavioral risk factor surveillance system survey. According to this statewide survey, this type of heavy drinking is more common among men than women, with nearly 21% of men participating in this behavior compared to just over 12% of women.

Additionally, heavy alcohol use is slightly more common among single adults than it is among married or coupled adults in Florida. On a positive note, the same data set suggests that heavy drinking in the state of Florida has been going down since 2021.

Consequences and Health Effects of Binge Drinking

There are many dangers associated with binge drinking. The most immediate concern is an alcohol overdose or alcohol poisoning.

Signs of alcohol poisoning include:

• Gastrointestinal Distress (vomiting, diarrhea)
• Low body temperature or clammy skin
• Low heart rate and difficulty breathing

Even if you don’t get alcohol poisoning, you face other risks in the short term while you’re heavily intoxicated. Some of these risks include:

• Increased likelihood of participating in risky behavior like unprotected sex
• Blacking out or not remembering your actions the next day
• Heightened aggression or emotional fragility
• Lack of coordination, which increases the likelihood of hurting yourself

In the long term, heavy drinking can lead to serious health conditions.

These include:

• Cancer of the mouth, throat, liver, esophagus, rectum, and more
• Cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and strokes
• Onset or worsening of mental health conditions

In addition to health concerns, this type of drinking can also hurt your relationship with others. You may find that you experience conflicts with your loved ones, or you’re quick to act out of anger. You may also isolate yourself from the people you love.

Binge Drinking and Alcohol Use Disorder: Signs That Binge Drinking is Something More

Not everyone who binge drinks has AUD, but people with AUD do binge drink. Usually, identifying the difference is about recognizing how alcohol consumption impacts your life. If you binge drink on occasion with friends and then go weeks or months without drinking heavily, you probably don’t have AUD.

Specifically, AUD occurs when someone physically and psychologically relies on alcohol to function. This reliance results in behaviors around alcohol that you wouldn’t take otherwise. These include not being able to stop drinking despite multiple attempts, drinking instead of fulfilling your responsibilities. It’s also likely that you are hiding your drinking from friends and family, or feeling the need to defend your drinking to them.

You might also find yourself staying home from social activities so that you can drink more, or hiding alcohol around your home so that you always have access. AUD could lead to you spending a lot of time thinking about when you can have your next drink, or spending a long time recovering from alcohol use when you do drink.

People living with AUD may even experience withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to stop drinking. These symptoms might include mood changes like anxiety, irritability, and restlessness. It is also common to experience nausea and vomiting alongside other physical symptoms like high blood pressure, increased heartbeat, and even heart palpitations. Tremors, heavy sweating, and insomnia are also common.

In extreme cases, alcohol withdrawal can lead to severe side effects including seizures, hallucinations, and delirium.

Binge Drinking Prevention: Stop Before You Start

If you’re worried that you’re starting to drink heavily more often than you would like, it is important to set limits on your alcohol consumption. If you plan to go out, try deciding beforehand how much you’re going to drink. Tell your friends about your plans, and ask them to hold you accountable. After you’ve reached your limit for the evening, consider switching to mocktails.

You can also set limits on how much alcohol you have in your home. If you plan to drink on your own, it helps to measure out each drink. This way you can keep track of how much you’re drinking more easily. You could also drink more slowly or drink as part of a meal to pace yourself.

Open conversation can help you reduce your drinking. Talk to your friends and family about your goals. You may find that you’re not as alone as you think and that other people in your life are also looking to drink less.

Getting Help for Binge Drinking in Tampa Bay

Binge drinking can be a sign that you’re living with AUD. If you or someone you love has been drinking like this regularly, it is time to reach out for help. For many people with AUD, imagining life in recovery feels scary, but doing the research is the first step.

A strong alcohol rehab program should offer you several treatment options. At the very beginning of treatment, a good program should provide detoxification to help you safely get any alcohol out of your system and, in some cases, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for cases where you need help blocking cravings or severe withdrawal symptoms.

Once you have safely gotten through the detoxification process, a good rehab program should provide you with evidence-based therapy options like dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), where a therapist will work with you to address the root causes of your AUD. They’ll also empower you to develop healthy coping strategies in place of your alcohol use.

Real Recovery Solutions offers alcohol use disorder treatment in the Tampa, FL, area. We provide our clients with access to additional tools like food stamps, transitional housing, gym memberships, and education opportunities to ensure they’re ready for life in recovery. To learn more or start your recovery today, contact us at 813-373-6762. 

Real people. Real solutions. Real results.