Daily HealthBeat Tip - October 19, 2007

What binge drinkers drink

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Binge drinking is no joke. Binging – four or more drinks at a time for women, five or more for men – accounts for more than half of the 75,000 deaths due to excessive drinking in the United States each year.

But drinks of what? Researcher Dr. Robert Brewer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined bingers’ beverage choices. His findings were in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine:

``Beer was by far the most commonly consumed beverage type among adult binge drinkers. About two thirds of the drinks consumed by binge drinkers during their most recent binge drinking episode were in the form of beer.’’  (11 seconds)

Brewer recommends communities act to prevent binge drinking. He also recommends no more than one drink a day for women who choose to drink, and no more than two for men.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May, 26 2008