Who coined the term binge drinking?

James · #1 02-16-2005, 11:44 PM

And defined it as 5 drinks in an evening for boys and 4 for girls?

He's an Anal Wart. He has single handedly managed to create a problem by definition of a simple behavior with an emotive term.

5 Drinks won't even legally intoxicate a large percentage of men . . but its "binge drinking."

Anal Wart.

DeltAlum · #2 02-17-2005, 10:30 AM

It wasn't me.

ETA, but Cardinal Puff and I may have invented it.

moe.ron · #3 02-17-2005, 10:41 AM

Wasn't it Harvard Medical?

33girl · #4 02-17-2005, 11:21 AM

I think it was Henry mediawhore Wechsler if I'm not mistaken...by extension, Harvard Medical.

It's a very dumb definition because it gives no set time period.

It's about as scientific (and overused) a term as "closure."

aephi alum · #5 02-17-2005, 08:57 PM

It is a very unclear and arbitrary definition.

You are considered a binge drinker if you have 5 drinks (for men) or 4 drinks (for women) in a sitting at least once every two weeks. But what is a sitting??

If I have a leisurely dinner every other weekend, and I start off with a cocktail, have two glasses of wine with my meal, and then have an after-dinner drink, all over the course of three hours, by this definition I'm a binge drinker because I've had four drinks in one sitting. Never mind that the drinks are accompanied by a full meal and they're spaced out so that I'm never actually drunk.

On the other hand, if I'm bar-hopping, I'm not a binge drinker as long as I make sure I don't have more than three drinks at any one bar. Even though I'd be falling-down drunk after hitting six bars or so, I'm not a binge drinker, because going from one bar to another = new sitting.

Very arbitrary.

alphaalpha · #6 02-18-2005, 12:42 AM

I am pretty sure that there is more to the definition that just on one sitting. I don't remember what the exact specifics are alude me at this moment. But i am pretty sure that binge drinking involved a specific time frame and a specific amount of alcohol in each "drink". IE you can hace to cups that together equal 8 oz, but those two together would equal to one "drink" and those 4 drinks that a women needs to have to be binge drinking has to be in like a 4 hour time frame.

Again, i don't not know what the exact figures are, however i am pretty sure that there is some time of quantifiable measurement of time and amount that has to be involved to be considered binge drinking.

TxAPhi · #7 02-18-2005, 02:27 AM

Not sure if this was posted somewhere else, thought you all would be interested ---

Watch Dr. Phil on Monday, February 21st - Rick and Patty Spady will be featured on Monday's Dr. Phil Show, which focuses on "Scary Trends". Please check your local listings and tune in to see Dr. Phil and the Spady's shine the spotlight on binge drinking.

The SAM Spady Foundation - http://www.samspadyfoundation.org/

The SAM Spady Foundation honors the memory of Samantha Spady, a 19-year old student at Colorado State University, who died of alcohol poisoning on September 5, 2004.

From the Foundation's January 2005 Newsletter - "A 'lethal dose' of alcohol is defined as approximately 4 times the legal limit or about 8-10 drinks consumes in a short time." and "Alcohol kills 1400 college students a year."

James · #8 02-18-2005, 11:36 PM

Thats a perversion of statistics . . . silly people.

I am glad her parents are putting all this effort into her . . . uhm . . . death.

Although . . . . wait for it . . . I think their timing is just a trifle off don't you?

The lesson: Lavish attention on the living, don't wait for them to die.

33girl · #9 02-19-2005, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aephi alum
It is a very unclear and arbitrary definition.

You are considered a binge drinker if you have 5 drinks (for men) or 4 drinks (for women) in a sitting at least once every two weeks. But what is a sitting??

If I have a leisurely dinner every other weekend, and I start off with a cocktail, have two glasses of wine with my meal, and then have an after-dinner drink, all over the course of three hours, by this definition I'm a binge drinker because I've had four drinks in one sitting. Never mind that the drinks are accompanied by a full meal and they're spaced out so that I'm never actually drunk.

On the other hand, if I'm bar-hopping, I'm not a binge drinker as long as I make sure I don't have more than three drinks at any one bar. Even though I'd be falling-down drunk after hitting six bars or so, I'm not a binge drinker, because going from one bar to another = new sitting.

Very arbitrary.

And what if you are standing up the whole time at the bar? LOL

Tom Earp · #10 02-19-2005, 11:01 PM

Each and everyone of You is SICK!!!!!!!!!!

Being a professional drinker, one should not slop booze down, but saver it for what it is worth.

A hell of a lot cheaper than FDA approved drugs that kill you!

God is good, booze aint that bad! Oh, In moderation!

LightBulb · #11 02-19-2005, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James
I am glad her parents are putting all this effort into her . . . uhm . . . death.

Although . . . . wait for it . . . I think their timing is just a trifle off don't you?

The lesson: Lavish attention on the living, don't wait for them to die.

That's really rude and unfair of you to say. You don't know how Sam Spady's parents treated her when she was alive; it is likely that they were very attentive and loving.

AchtungBaby80 · #12 02-19-2005, 11:33 PM

Also, the definition of "binge drinking" is different in Europe--over there, you'd have to have more drinks to be considered a binge drinker. Europeans must hold their alcohol better or something, right guys?

Tom Earp · #13 02-19-2005, 11:45 PM

Yes and No!

British Ilses Pubs closed down at 2:00 in the afternoon till 4:00 so the patrons would go home.

They are in the process of changing that to keep open and even later Hours.

Of course, the young people esp. in France and It. drink at a much younger age, so it is a normal thing, not swilling alchohol down at a party!

BINGING seems to be an American thing!

33girl · #14 02-20-2005, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LightBulb
That's really rude and unfair of you to say. You don't know how Sam Spady's parents treated her when she was alive; it is likely that they were very attentive and loving.

James' point is that from what we've read about Sam Spady, she was not a babe in the woods or an alcohol virgin...she'd been drinking in a dangerous manner before any of this happened. It would have behooved her parents to deal with her drinking problem before it took her from them.

LightBulb · #15 02-20-2005, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
James' point is that from what we've read about Sam Spady, she was not a babe in the woods or an alcohol virgin...she'd been drinking in a dangerous manner before any of this happened. It would have behooved her parents to deal with her drinking problem before it took her from them.

Thank you for explaining. I had never heard of her before this thread.