What are the definitions of binge and harmful drinking? How do these terms relate to alcoholism?

Binge drinking is currently defined as a discrete number of drinks on a single occasion. The generally agreed-upon numbers are 5 (or more) drinks in a single episode for men, and either 4 or 5 (or more) drinks for women. At UM, we prefer the criteria of 4 (or more) drinks for women because it accounts for the physiological differences between men and women. Further, this gender-based criteria allows us to compare our data with other post-secondary institutions. Binge drinking is particularly problematic because significant quantities of alcohol are being consumed in a short period of time. As this happens, the body's blood alcohol content rises dramatically. As decision-making abilities decrease along with reaction time and other motor functioning skills, the probability of negative consequences from alcohol consumption increases dramatically. Although the term "binge drinking" is currently popular, we prefer the term "harmful drinking." Harmful drinking is defined as any alcohol use ...  more