I pretty much would have to agree with the medical definition of binge drinking (consuming at least five alcoholic drinks in a row for men, and four in a row for women). I think that many drinks consecutively meets the definition of "binge."
According to
Dictionary.com "binge" means...
binge (bnj)
n.
1. A drunken spree or revel.
2a.) A period of unrestrained, immoderate self-indulgence.
2b.) A period of excessive or uncontrolled indulgence in food or drink: e.g. an eating binge.
(For these definitions see:
http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=binge )
I think 4-5 drinks in a row could be considered a binge. Of course, a person consuming four drinks could, conceivably, drink them in a controlled manner (so that negates the term "binge" a little bit).
I guess it all depends on your definition of "binge," and "excessive." What is excessive for one, might not be for another.
ANYWAY, those are my thoughts...
Jen
PS
I found the following article on
WebMD.com:
A New Look at Binge Drinking on Campus:
Harvard Researchers Update Landmark 1997 Study
By Denise Mann
WebMD Medical News
Feb. 29, 2000 (New York) -- Three years after a definitive Harvard study indicated that 42% of college students were binge drinkers, the same researchers are set to release an updated report that will show whether anything has changed.
The 1997 study, along with several highly publicized alcohol-related deaths of college students, focused national attention on the issue of binge drinking on campuses.
Binge drinking is defined as consuming at least five alcoholic drinks in a row for men, and four in a row for women.
Read the rest of the article at...
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.55308