Dr K K Aggarwal

eMedinewS Editorial

Avoid Binge Drinking at the New Year Celebrations

During New Year celebrations many of us can put ourselves including our family, and our community in danger of experiencing many harmful health and safety outcomes from binge drinking.

Binge drinking is defined as 5 or more drinks on a single occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on a single occasion for women. One American drink is 40 ml of whisky (13 grams) and one India drink is 30 ml (10 grams) of whisky. Drinking too much, including binge drinking, is a leading preventable cause of death. More than 15% of adults report binge drinking. It is most common in men, adults in the 18–34 age range. Most people who binge drink are not alcohol–dependent or alcoholics and often engage in this behavior without realizing the health and social problems of their drinking. Alcohols can also be mixed with date rape drugs which are colorless and odorless.

Binge drinking increases the chances of:

• Road traffic accidents
• Violence against others and sexual assaults.
• Risky sexual behaviors that can lead to HIV, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and unintended pregnancy.
• Alcohol poisoning.
• Babies born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
• Over time, binge drinking can lead to liver disease, certain cancers, heart disease, and other chronic diseases.

What can one do?

• Choose not to binge drink and help others not to do it.
• Avoid mixing alcohol with energy drinks, which can mask the depressant effects of alcohol.
• Avoid drinking and driving
• A rough formula is ‘one peg can impair driving for one hour.’
• Avoid purchasing or serving alcohol to children and teenagers.
• Choose not to drink if you are pregnant, or may become pregnant.
• Talk about your drinking behavior and request counseling when required.
• Participate in community efforts to prevent binge drinking.

Dr KK Aggarwal
Editor in Chief