Binge Drinking

Jayhawk Buddy System BAC cups on a table.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a pattern of excessive alcohol use that increases a person's blood alcohol content (BAC) rapidly (BAC to 0.08% or higher). Typically, this pattern corresponds to consuming five or more drinks for males, or four or more drinks for females, in about two hours.

Binge drinking is associated with many risks and health issues, including but not limited to:

  • Alcohol poisoning
  • Cancers
  • Compromised immune system
  • High blood pressure, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases 
  • Liver disease
  • Neurological damage
  • Pancreatitis
  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • Unintentional injuries (car crashes, falls, burns, drowning)
  • Unintentional pregnancy

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