Binge drinking - have you ever done it?

[Flagg]

Have you ever gone binge drinking?

Yes.

If so, did you do it just once, or have you done it many times?

A few.

If the latter, how would you respond to the charge that you're a fucking idiot?

Everyone who gets more than few drinks into them is a fucking idiot at the time. I never set out to get blackout drunk, but after you get a good buzz on you lose inhibitions and are more likely to get fucked up.

That's why before I was forced to stop drinking altogether for health reasons, I would regulate my drinking using a hard/soft method. Take a shot or drink a beer, then have a full glass of something like soda or water.

[Pezzoni]

I did last night. I'm sure I will again, probably this week. Why? Because it's fun, and not inherantly harmful to anyone but myself - I'm never aggressive when drunk, and whilst I may occasionally do stupid things they generally involve me, and me alone. Indeed, if I hadn't been drinking, I wouldn't have been in the situation where I was able to help an (extremely drunk) girl who was new to the University and generally lost and disoriented get home. I'm not attempting to say 'alcohol makes you good lol', but it doesn't make you behave immediately like a twat either.

It's not even like I can't have fun without drinking - I can, and regularly do so. It's just a different experiance, both of which I enjoy. I have no dependency on alcohol, and don't miss commitments or damage relationships because of it. In the long term I know it is unhealthy, but it isn't harming anyone else.

[Vendetta]

I go out drinking about once a month (more for the sake of my wallet than anything, nights out are expensive), and I'll generally drink 6 pints or so plus probably some sweet muck later on when I'm in a club that serves piss instead of beer. That's not enough to get me seriously drunk though, because it's done over the course of an evening with plenty of talking to let your beer settle and walking between pubs to space the drinks out.

[Darth Wong]

Question for all of the people who say they can handle large amounts of alcohol without getting drunk: you are aware of the voluminous medical research linking heavy drinking to long-term brain damage, aren't you? None of those studies said anything about "but if you don't feel like you're hammered, then it's OK".

[Zwinmar]

Have I? yes

I'm a former Marine that spend six months in Okinawa aka The Rock, were Marines do one of two things: 1.) become a PT stud or 2.) become and alcoholic.

Needless to say I did not become a PT stud.

In recent years however, the last time I got drunk was at my brothers wedding (4 of us floated a keg of budlight). Other than that I might have a beer in a month, 1 beer.

I just do not find that losing my mind is very enjoyable. Even though I have never had a hangover.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Question for all of the people who say they can handle large amounts of alcohol without getting drunk: you are aware of the voluminous medical research linking heavy drinking to long-term brain damage, aren't you? None of those studies said anything about "but if you don't feel like you're hammered, then it's OK".

No one would ever make this stupid argument with another drug. "Well, I have to do a whole 8-ball of blow before I'm flying, so its not any more bad for me than when you're all fucked up from 3 lines of coke, right?"

[Spyder]

I was just talking to Spin Echo about this actually, when consuming large volumes of alcohol over a length length of time (months/years) it would stand to reason that you'd start suffering brain damage in the long term. I'm not aware of any research pointing to a binge every couple of years or so having the same effect.

Not that it doesn't feel like it that now...Oww...hard night.

[NeoGoomba]

I got pretty smashed at a friends wedding a few weeks back, but that is definately not something I'm proud of, nor something I'd consider doing again. I enjoy having a Scottish ale or two when I'm at home watching NFL games (maybe to soften the blow of being a Jets fan), but I'm not a fan of getting drunk anymore. I got that out of my system in college, and I rather regret doing it.

Like Vendetta, I'll go out maybe once a month, but usually I DD, but if not, I just nurse two or three beers over the night at the pub we all go to.

[Spin Echo]

I was just talking to Spin Echo about this actually, when consuming large volumes of alcohol over a length length of time (months/years) it would stand to reason that you'd start suffering brain damage in the long term. I'm not aware of any research pointing to a binge every couple of years or so having the same effect.

Not that it doesn't feel like it that now...Oww...hard night.

Did some reading in the literature on this to keep me awake while tending my Bruker beige baby. Evidence seems to indicate to a tipping point as opposed to a continuum, that up to a certain level of drinking there appears to be no significant impact in brain damage. And then you get the studies that actually showed improved memory capabilities and prevention dementia in the elderly that were light drinkers of wine. Too much alcohol and you go the other way. Age played a big effect in terms of brain damage. Fetuses (fetii?) exposed to alcohol were the worst off. Adolescents exposed to alcohol would show damage in cases where adults would not.

Timing played another factor. Studies would show that rats exposed to X amount of alcohol over Y time would show brain damage while those exposed to X amount of alcohol over a longer time Z would not. It's hard to tease out the effects of isolated binges, as a lot of studies seem to focus on giving rats copius amounts of alcohol for extended periods of time. Those studies that did isolated binge studies tended to be looking at fetal development.

I'm a little surprised at some of the classifications. For example, several studies list someone who drinks 21 drinks per week as just a heavy social social drinker. I would have classed that as a functional alcoholic...

[NeoGoomba]

I'm a little surprised at some of the classifications. For example, several studies list someone who drinks 21 drinks per week as just a heavy social social drinker. I would have classed that as a functional alcoholic...

Jesus, what sort of social circle drinks like that? The Brewmasters Association?

[Darth Wong]

The studies showing "health benefits for red wine" seem to be leaping to a false conclusion. After all, red wine is made from grapes, and therefore has plenty of antioxidants in it. For people whose diet is deficient in fruits and vegetables (such as the aging British people used in the landmark study on the subject), daily doses of red wine might well represent the majority of their antioxidants.

[Spin Echo]

The studies showing "health benefits for red wine" seem to be leaping to a false conclusion. After all, red wine is made from grapes, and therefore has plenty of antioxidants in it. For people whose diet is deficient in fruits and vegetables (such as the aging British people used in the landmark study on the subject), daily doses of red wine might well represent the majority of their antioxidants.

I don't see how health benefits from red wine is a false conclusion just because you can gain also those benefits in other ways. One can get antioxidants from tea. Is it false to say that tea has health benefits just because I can get those antioxidants from vegetables as well?

There were several unadressed problems with the initial study. Subsequent studies performed using the Mediterranean diet (i.e a diet rich in vegetables, fish, etc) still showed benefits. Despite both groups getting adequate fruit and vegetables, the group drinking the red wine had more cardiovascular benefits than the abstaining group.

[Darth Servo]

The studies showing "health benefits for red wine" seem to be leaping to a false conclusion. After all, red wine is made from grapes, and therefore has plenty of antioxidants in it. For people whose diet is deficient in fruits and vegetables (such as the aging British people used in the landmark study on the subject), daily doses of red wine might well represent the majority of their antioxidants.

I don't see how health benefits from red wine is a false conclusion just because you can gain also those benefits in other ways. One can get antioxidants from tea. Is it false to say that tea has health benefits just because I can get those antioxidants from vegetables as well?

There were several unadressed problems with the initial study. Subsequent studies performed using the Mediterranean diet (i.e a diet rich in vegetables, fish, etc) still showed benefits. Despite both groups getting adequate fruit and vegetables, the group drinking the red wine had more cardiovascular benefits than the abstaining group.

Mike isn't necessarily saying its all the anti-oxidants, although to say anti-oxidants don't help is to only advertise one's idiocy. He's given one possibility.

One big problem with those "red wine helps the heart" studies is the people spouting them never seem to present a study showing similar results from beer.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

The most I've ever actually had in one fourty-eight hour period (I refuse to drink on the day after already having drunk) was six, all in one afternoon. I was amused by things I was normally not amused by, laughed a lot, and then wandered off into my room, used the computer for a little while, and fell asleep much sooner than normal, waking up the next day without even a hangover, though rather thirsty. Other than that I've never had four in a day, so, no, I don't consider myself as having engaged in binge drinking, which I typically think of as 8+ in a 5 - 6 hour period.

[Spin Echo]

Mike isn't necessarily saying its all the anti-oxidants, although to say anti-oxidants don't help is to only advertise one's idiocy. He's given one possibility.

Yes, and studies that have controlled for insufficient fruit and vegetable intake still show an additional benefit of the red wine.

One big problem with those "red wine helps the heart" studies is the people spouting them never seem to present a study showing similar results from beer.

Actually, it's that you haven't done your literature search.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

I'm a little surprised at some of the classifications. For example, several studies list someone who drinks 21 drinks per week as just a heavy social social drinker. I would have classed that as a functional alcoholic...

Jesus, what sort of social circle drinks like that? The Brewmasters Association?

I'm not entirely sure, but it seems highly inaccurate. I consider anyone who has more than 5 - 6 a week on a regular basis to have an issue. These days my consumption is limited to 1 - 2 glasses of wine a month on occasions of some worth in celebrating. Since I don't drink when I'm planning to drive somewhere the next day, and only drink in the evenings after having finished all activities of import, it's hard to process just how someone would feel safe would consistent and constant consumption. Even the slightest bit of impairment in most activities is undesirable.

[Spin Echo]

I'm not entirely sure, but it seems highly inaccurate. I consider anyone who has more than 5 - 6 a week on a regular basis to have an issue. These days my consumption is limited to 1 - 2 glasses of wine a month on occasions of some worth in celebrating. Since I don't drink when I'm planning to drive somewhere the next day, and only drink in the evenings after having finished all activities of import, it's hard to process just how someone would feel safe would consistent and constant consumption. Even the slightest bit of impairment in most activities is undesirable.

Yeah, I thought was a typo, but I couldn't figure out what sort of type you could make to get "21 drinks per week".

[Zablorg]

When I was nine I had one accidental shot at binge drinking. Me and my sister just wanted to make ourselves a drink so we looked in our cabinet. First thing we saw was vanilla extract, which we put large amounts of in several cups of water.


Being drunk is over-rated.

[The_Saint]

Hmmm I actually thought I rated pretty low but compared to a lot of people here I might sound like I should be at an AA meeting...

To quote my handy Australian Government: Department of Health and Ageing -issue fridge magnet: "Men should drink no more than 4 Standard Drinks a day on average. And never more than 6 Standard Drinks a day."[sic] Women 2 and 4 respectively and then "Everyone should have 1 or 2 alcohol-free days a week.".

I'd say on average I'd consume about a dozen standard drinks a week usually spread over a couple of days...
The Spit Roast and Sangria party that we held for an end of university year party last night went awesomely but I don't expect to have another night like it for a few months, I have no idea how much sangria I drank (I mixed it... an artist has to taste his creation ) but the party went well, I drank over a period of time, had plenty of roast to pack it out and would consider myself well short "binge drinking".
To me binge drinking is drinking to excess for no reason other than to get drunk and keep drinking (though I do understand the medical definition of binge drinking). In my life I've only been drinking twice where I had cause to throw up, once was when for some reason I decided to eat a whole packet of marshmellow's to myself ontop of some homebrewed beer and the other when the person who was buying drinks switched to Corona... I thought the lemon in the neck of the bottle tasted better than the bottle's other contents. Neither occasion I'd attribute as being caused by excess alcohol. Admittedly on one occasion I would consider my drinking to have directly impacted my health noticeably, was a particular once off due to personal issues of the time. When I say it isn't to be repeated I'm not thinking of the drinking but of the causes that lead to me wanting to erase some horror memories...

I have another fridge magnet somewhere (produced by the government as well) that has a chart with a recommended number of standard drinks per hour by age, body mass etc. For myself (Male, 21, tall/~85kgs) it had a listing of 1st hour: 3 drinks, 2nd hour: 1 drink, 3rd hour, two drinks, 4th hour: 2 drinks, 5th hour 1 drinks, 6th+ hour: 2 drinks. It then admitted that this was only a guide and medically everything should be in moderation.

Saying all that I've found several handy hints have kept me in good stead.
Everything in moderation, including moderation.
No drinks until the sun's over the yard-arm (apparently a Navy tradition though I've only heard it second hand), translates to no drinks till evening.
and the one that's been taught in Australian schools for the past ten years or so: Males: 2 drinks first hour, 1 drink per hour thereafter (though I may stretch that to two per hour unless I was thirsty and had three the first hour, I've RARELY gone past the drinks-per-hour list I mentioned in the first paragraph).

[Honorable Mention]

I've gone binge drinking. I try to avoid drinking when I'm incredibly stressed because it's in that situation where, after a few drinks, I feel so much more relaxed that I want to drink more.

Usually I'm fairly responsible, but my tendency to bottle that stuff up and then have an explosion of bad decisions prevents me from saying I always exercise good judgment.

[Ericxihn]

I'm a little surprised at some of the classifications. For example, several studies list someone who drinks 21 drinks per week as just a heavy social social drinker. I would have classed that as a functional alcoholic...

Jesus, what sort of social circle drinks like that? The Brewmasters Association?

The average college fraternity

[Honorable Mention]

I forgot to post in regards to defense for the behavior. I have none. It's mostly just the bottling up I mentioned before coupled with a thing for self-destructive behavior that contrasts my usually structured and painfully responsible (although a little restricting) behavior. Maybe a slight superman complex, if I had to guess.

[DesertFly]

The most I've had to drink in one sitting is probably a six pack of hard lemonade, which I've only done a couple of times. I also drank an entire small bottle of vodka one night, and half a small bottle of Jack Daniels and another half (large) bottle of vodka on another. Oh, and most of a largish bottle of Orange Smirnoff vodka another night. Those four nights were the most drunk I've ever been, and even then I didn't barf, I didn't pass out, I remembered everything, and I had no ill effects in the morning. Of course, in all those cases, I was careful to drink plenty of other fluids as well.

Even with those quantities, I would say that I was just barely drunk, but even so, I limit my drinking now to about two or three drinks, one night a week. I don't drink on nights before I have to work, which is Sunday through Thursday, and I work until midnight on weeknights, which puts Friday out as well. Even Saturday night I probably won't drink, as that's one of the few chances I have to see my girlfriend, and hanging out with her takes precedence over getting smashed.

I do enjoy the feeling of being buzzed, but it usually takes so much to get there that the fear of liver damage and other averse health effects puts me off of drinking more than at the maximum four drinks with any sort of regularity (i.e. once a week.)

[His Divine Shadow]

One big problem with those "red wine helps the heart" studies is the people spouting them never seem to present a study showing similar results from beer.

Googled a bit:
http://www.azcentral.com/home/wine/arti ... lth24.html
http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/healt ... -beer.html
http://www.physorg.com/news79728415.html

So maybe there's something to beer too?

[Thunderfire]

I'm a little surprised at some of the classifications. For example, several studies list someone who drinks 21 drinks per week as just a heavy social social drinker. I would have classed that as a functional alcoholic...

Jesus, what sort of social circle drinks like that? The Brewmasters Association?

21 per week = 3 drinks per day. That's not much. German construction workers drink half a crate of beer or more a day.