binge drinking

noun

: an act or pattern of excessive consumption of alcohol

The reality is, however, that college drinking, especially binge drinking—defined as five or more drinks in a sitting for men and four for women—is a serious, and sometimes fatal, problem.

—Maria Caliri

The contentious tax on alcopops has failed to influence teenage drinkers and done nothing to curb binge drinking, according to the first survey of underage alcohol use since the federal government introduced the excise hike.

—Melissa Fyfe

The Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project has developed strategies to reduce binge drinking by identifying bars that routinely over-serve customers, as well as community festivals that overemphasize drinking.

—Chris Hubbuch

—often hyphenated when used before another noun

a binge-drinking problem

binge drink intransitive verb

binge drank; binge drank also binge drunk; binge drinking; binge drinks

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 6 U.S. adults binge drinks, with 25% doing so at least weekly.

—Annika Olson

binge drinker noun

plural binge drinkers

Respondents who report consuming five or more drinks on at least one occasion during the past month are considered binge drinkers and are at the highest risk for alcohol-related problems.

—Paula Mergenhagen

Examples of binge drinking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Retirees who reported binge drinking—meaning consuming four or more drinks on the same day for women and five or more for men—had a 0.07-point increase in symptoms of depression, on average, than people who didn’t drink alcohol at all. —Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 28 Jan. 2025

That said, doxycycline is less effective in people who are chronic alcohol users and those who engage in heavy or binge drinking. —Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 22 Jan. 2025

Unlike moderate drinking, binge drinking disrupts mental and physical health, leading to greater stress and less emotional regulation. —John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025

Drinking too much, for too long—or even heavy binge drinking that lasts weeks and months—is one of the most common causes of liver disease. —Cassie Shortsleeve, SELF, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

binge drinking

noun

variants also binge-drinking

: an act or pattern of excessive consumption of alcohol

binge drink intransitive verb

binge drinker noun