USA Today (1/11, Lloyd) reports that a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report has found that “one in six adults in the USA is a binge drinker, consuming an average of eight drinks per occasion and doing so about four times a month.” The report’s author, CDC alcohol program lead Robert Brewer, remarked, “What is different with this study is we studied the frequency and the intensity, and the number of episodes by different groups. The frequency is very high and the amount consumed was also very high.”

Bloomberg News (1/11, Lopatto) reports, “Wisconsin had both the highest percentage of binge drinkers, with 25.6 percent of the population reporting they engaged, and the most-intense sessions, with an average of nine drinks,” while “the nation’s capital reported 21.9 percent of its population was binge-drinkers, tying it with North Dakota for third highest in a survey covering the District of Columbia and 48 of the 50 states.” Brewer commented, “We’re talking about a risk behavior that’s quite widespread in the population. And where people have the impression it’s not such a bad thing to do.”

The AP (1/11) quotes Brewer, who said, “I know this sounds astounding, but I think the numbers we’re reporting are really an underestimate.” The piece notes that while “binge drinking may be considered socially acceptable,” it “accounts for more than 40,000 deaths each year,” and “contributes to problems like violence and drunk-driving accidents and longer-term issues like cancer, heart disease and liver failure.”

The Wall Street Journal (1/11, Martin) reports that public health officials expressed surprise by the frequency of binge drinking occurrences, as well as the number of drinks consumed. Ursula Bauer, director of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, remarked, “Binge drinking remains a common and largely unrecognized health problem.”

Blogfinger Medical Commentary:   By Paul Goldfinger, MD, FACC

It’s interesting that most binge drinkers are not alcoholics. The term alcoholism is usually associated with dependency.

The other end of the spectrum has to do with a potential health benefit from small amounts of alcohol. From our book on preventing heart disease:  “Heavy consumption of alcohol increases the risk of dying, but small amounts of alcohol seem to offer some protection against coronary disease. In the Physicians Health Study (Lancet 1998), 5,358 male physicians who had a history of heart attack were questioned as to alcohol intake. During a 5-year follow-up, small amounts of alcohol (from 2-4 drinks per week up to one drink per day) resulted in a reduction in cardiovascular mortality risk. Taking more than that resulted in less benefit. The benefits of alcohol are believed to relate to raising HDL levels, inhibiting LDL oxidation, and reducing blood clotting.”

“Individuals with a history of alcohol or drug dependency should not use alcohol in any form.”