What is the Difference Between Binge Drinking and Getting Drunk?
A few helpful pointers on drinking too much alcohol, for you or someone you love
What’s the difference between binge drinking and getting drunk? Even more, does drinking multiple days in a row qualify as binge drinking? Either is certainly not good, but understanding the differences may help you or someone you love.
By Definition: Getting Drunk
Getting drunk occurs when alcohol impairs your cognitive, motor, and sensory functions. Drunkenness varies widely depending on factors like body weight, tolerance, and how quickly alcohol is consumed.
By Definition: Binge Drinking
Binge drinking is defined by the pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as consuming 5 or more drinks for men or 4 or more drinks for women within about 2 hours.
How to Recognize Binge Drinking
· Consuming a large number of drinks (4–5+) in a short period.
· Frequently taking shots or chugging drinks.
· Rapidly escalating signs of intoxication, such as slurred speech, unsteady gait, or aggressive behavior.
· Drinking to get drunk or “catch up.”
· Participating in drinking games or drinking competitively.
· Consuming alcohol in social settings where peer pressure is high.
· Nausea, vomiting, blacking out (memory gaps), or passing out.
How to Prevent Binge Drinking
· Set Limits
· Hydrate and Pace
· Know Your Triggers
· Plan Your Activities
· Educate Yourself
· Social Support
· Avoid Peer Pressure
Red Flags for Binge Drinking and Alcohol Dependence
These are a few helpful insights.
Quantity of Alcohol Matters
Binge drinking is specifically defined as consuming enough alcohol to raise your BAC to 0.08% or higher within about two hours.
Duration of Drinking
If alcohol consumption is spaced out over many hours and doesn’t lead to a high BAC quickly, it might not fit the strict definition of binge drinking. However, the cumulative amount consumed during the night could still lead to intoxication and associated risks.
Context of Drinking
Drinking alcohol consistently during emotionally intense conversations could signal that alcohol is being used to cope with stress, emotions, or personal struggles. This shifts the focus from binge drinking to potential patterns of emotional reliance on alcohol.
How to Break the Cycle
Whether it’s binge drinking or consistently drinking to get drunk, these are three ways to help break the cycle.
- Set Alcohol-Free Boundaries (Example: Try having these conversations without alcohol. See if the dialogue remains as open and effective.)
- Limit Drinking (Example: Establish a cap on the number of drinks or set a “no alcohol after midnight” rule.
- Explore Emotional Needs (Example: Support One Other}
Moving Forward
While getting drunk is often the outcome of binge drinking, not all instances of drunkenness qualify as binge drinking. Binge drinking emphasizes the quantity and speed of alcohol consumption. Either is certainly not good, but understanding the differences may help you or someone you love.
JD Solomon resides in the Carolinas, where he fishes, sails, and spends too much time on the beach. Professionally, JD Solomon is the founder of JD Solomon, Inc., the creator of the FINESSE fishbone diagram®, and the co-creator of the SOAP criticality method©.
