Binge Drinking

What is binge drinking?
Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL. This typically occurs after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men—in about 2 hours.

Are there risks involved with binge drinking?
Drinking this way can pose serious health and safety risks, including car crashes, drunk-driving arrests, sexual assaults, and injuries. Over the long term, frequent binge drinking can damage the liver and other organs.

How can I avoid binge drinking?
To avoid binge drinking and its consequences, college students (and all people who drink) are advised to track the number of drinks they consume over a given period of time. That is why it is important to know exactly what counts as a drink.

So exactly how much counts as just one drink?
In the United States, a standard drink is one that contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in

  • 12 ounces of beer with 5 percent alcohol content
  • 5 ounces of wine with 12 percent alcohol content
  • 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits with 40 percent alcohol content

How can I tell if someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning?

  • Mental confusion, stupor, coma or the person cannot be roused
  • Vomiting
  • Slow or irregular breathing
  • Hypothermia or low body temperature, bluish or pale skin

What can I do to help a person showing signs of alcohol poisoning?
Alcohol poisoning can lead to permanent brain damage or death, so a person showing any of these signs requires immediate medical attention. Don’t wait. Call 911 if you suspect alcohol poisoning.

What if I notice someone showing symptoms of alcohol poisoning but don’t report it because I dont want to be accused of minor policy violations?
According to 8.110.5..Responsible Action Policy in Truman State University’s Student Conduct Code, If charged and found responsible for a violation of the Code, sanctions imposed, if any, will be less severe when students or student organizations appropriately report dangerous circumstances than if students or student organizations fail to report… The University provides amnesty to students who may be hesitant to file a complaint because they fear that they themselves may be accused of minor policy violations, such as underage drinking, at the time of the incident.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse on College Drinking
Truman Code of Conduct on Drinking