Why is Binge Drinking Bad for You?

Alcohol is often associated with celebrations. But too much alcohol can cause both short-term and long-term harmful effects and can cause death. This article shows you the other side of alcohol - something that doesn't call for a celebration

Drink to celebrate - in moderation

There are many reasons to drink: parties, festive celebrations or watching a soccer game with your pals.

But when one drinks excessively, it is hardly a case for celebration.

Binge drinking refers to excessive consumption of alcohol over a short period of time. For a male adult, this is about five or more standard drinks, and for female, four or more standard drinks, in one drinking session. Binge drinking can bring with it both short-term and long-term harmful effects [1].

If you do drink, moderation is the key. Women should drink no more than one standard drink a day and men should limit themselves to two standard drinks a day. A standard alcoholic drink contains 10 grams of alcohol and this can be estimated to be:

1 can (330ml) of regular beer
Half glass* (100ml) of wine
1 nip (30ml) of spirit

*glass height = 15cm

The recommended drinking limit for women is lower as their bodies have a different fat to muscle ratio and a smaller blood volume as compared to men.

With the poor solubility of alcohol in fats, the blood and tissue concentrations of alcohol become higher in women, even when the amount of alcohol consumed is adjusted for the body size.

Women may also have lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase in the stomach than men, and as a result, less alcohol is broken down before absorption.

Alcohol dependence

A person who drinks frequently, or drinks a lot may become addicted to alcohol.

Some signs of alcohol dependency include a strong urge to drink; the ability to drink larger quantities of alcohol without appearing intoxicated; persistent drinking; and undergoing withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop drinking [2].

Studies have shown that for each additional year earlier than 21 that an individual began to drink, the greater the odds that he or she would develop alcohol dependence at some point in life [3].

Short-term harmful effects: Alcohol poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is the most life-threatening consequence of binge drinking. When a person drinks too much, his or her body reflexes are affected. These include breathing and the pharyngeal reflex. The pharyngeal reflex, also known as gag reflex, helps to prevent choking. If this reflex is not functioning well, one may die from choking on his or her vomit.

Some other signs of alcohol poisoning include:

lack of muscular coordination
blurred or double vision
drop in body temperature
low blood sugar concentration
low blood pressure
impaired judgement
coma

If a person shows signs of alcohol poisoning, lay him on his side and call for immediate medical attention. Alcohol poisoning can be deadly [4].

Long-term harmful effects

Drinking alcohol excessively and frequently for a long period of time can cause harm to several parts of the body.

Brain damage

Adverse effects on memory function, concentration, reasoning, planning and visuo-spatial skills.
Growth of the brain structure is affected.
Abnormalities in some areas in the brain
Stroke

Diseases in digestive system

Peptic ulcer, an ulcer usually found in the small intestine
Gastritis
Stomach cancer
Bowel cancer

Heart problem

Heart muscle disorders
Heartbeat rhythm irregularities
High blood pressure

Kidney damage

Kidney's function in maintaining body fluids, leading to kidney enlargement

Liver disease

Liver function is affected
Development of fatty liver, which can lead to liver cirrhosis (scarring)
Alcoholic hepatitis (signs include swollen liver, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, bleeding, jaundice)

Psychological problems

Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and insomnia

Sexual and hormonal dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction
Lowering of testosterone concentrations
Sperm growth is affected
Lowered fertility in women
Altered hormonal levels in premenopausal women, which increases the risk of osteoporosis

Breast cancer

Latest available data indicate that half of all alcohol-attributable cancers in the WHO European Region are caused by “light” and “moderate” alcohol consumption – less than 1.5 litres of wine or less than 3.5 litres of beer or less than 450 millilitres of spirits per week. This drinking pattern is responsible for the majority of alcohol-attributable breast cancers in women, with the highest burden observed in countries of the European Union (EU).[5]