Abstract
This study examined the relationship of volume of alcohol consumed to the occurrence of alcohol-related problems among male and female college students to develop a gender-specific measure of heavy episodic or binge drinking by college students for public health research. A self-administered survey was mailed to a national representative sample of students at 140 4-year colleges in 40 states and the District of Columbia. A total of 17,592 college students completed the survey. Women who typically drink four drinks in a row were found to have roughly the same likelihood of experiencing drinking-related problems as men who typically drink five drinks in a row. Use of the same standard for both sexes underestimates binge drinking and the negative health risks for women.
Highlights
IntroductionThe consumption of large amounts of alcohol on a single occasion, has been linked to an increased risk of negative health outcomes.[1] It has become common practice in research on alcohol to define heavy or binge drinking in terms of episodes involving five or more drinks in a row for both men and women.[2,3,4,5,6,7] Yet blood alcohol level tables that determine the legal definition of driving while intoxicated[8] are based on sex as well as on weight
Binge drinking, or the consumption of large amounts of alcohol on a single occasion, has been linked to an increased risk of negative health outcomes.[1]
The methodological implications of this research are clear: a lower standard defining heavy or binge drinking needs to be used for women than for men
Summary
The consumption of large amounts of alcohol on a single occasion, has been linked to an increased risk of negative health outcomes.[1] It has become common practice in research on alcohol to define heavy or binge drinking in terms of episodes involving five or more drinks in a row for both men and women.[2,3,4,5,6,7] Yet blood alcohol level tables that determine the legal definition of driving while intoxicated[8] are based on sex as well as on weight. Recent research suggests that the gender differences are owing to women's lower rates of gastric metabolism of alcohol (initially only 80% of men's) and, to their higher blood alcohol levels for a fixed amount of alcohol, even after accounting for differences in body weight or lean body mass.[9] Psychiatric epidemiologists have suggested that clinical criteria should be defined differently for men and women in the diagnosis of alcohol dependency and alcoholism.[10].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
