Binge drinking increases the risk of developing alcohol problems

The practice of binge drinking would increase the subsequent risk of developing alcohol-related problems. The risk would be even higher than in regular drinkers. This is shown by a study signed by researchers from the University of Texas (United States), whose conclusions were published on June 9 in the journal American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

5 times more likely to have alcohol problems

The researchers analyzed the responses of 1,229 American drinkers aged 30 and older to learn more about their drinking habits over nine years. Objective, to analyze how their behavior may have affected them during this almost decade. The result of this follow-up, say the study authors, surprised them.

According to their observations, the “binge drinkers”, who binge drink alcohol over a short period of time, are 5 times more likely to have multiple drinking problems than those who drink the same amount of alcohol but over a longer period without s indulge in excesses. Furthermore, the majority of “binge drinkers” were considered moderate drinkers. According to the study, they would also be twice as likely to have more alcohol problems nine years later.

“This implies that a person whose total consumption is 7 drinks on Saturday evening is more at risk than a person who drinks one drink every evening, even if their average level of consumption is the same”warns Dr. Holahan, one of the authors of the study.

Binge drinking, a major public health issue

A collective expertise from the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), published at the end of 2021, warned of the extent of binge drinking in France, especially among young girls. According to the authors, half of 17-year-olds had practiced binge drinking during the last thirty days preceding the publication of their summary. The blood alcohol level reached during binge drinking would generally be around 0.8 g/l, or even more, according to the researchers and doctors who collaborated on this work.

While studies on binge drinking tend to focus on teenagers and college students, the US study shows that even among “binge drinkers” adults, who have average consumption, the risk remains.

“Much of adult binge drinking escapes public health scrutiny.warns Dr. Holahan, because it occurs in people who drink at a moderate level.”

“In scientific and media discussions of moderate alcohol consumption, the mode of consumption is generally overlooked, completes Dr. Rudolf Moos, co-author of the study and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University. Thereby, many drinkers mistakenly imagine that a moderate average level of drinking is safe, regardless of the mode of drinking.“

This study recognizes the danger of binge drinking at any age, whether teenager or young adult, and calls for combating this type of consumption, in particular through interventions targeting moderate alcohol drinkers, “in addition to conventional strategies focused on the higher-risk population of regular drinkers”.