Issues with Binge Drinking

About Binge Drinking:

               Alcohol is part of our society. People consume it to celebrate, socialize, relax, and enhance the enjoyment of meals. Binge Drinking is the practice of consuming large quantities of alcohol in a single session, usually defined as five or more drinks at one time for a man, or four or more drinks at one time for a woman. Nearly 90% of adults in the United States report that they drank alcohol at some point  in their lifetime.

When you think of binge drinking, young adults, particularly college students, may spring to mind. But older people, in particular adults 65 or older, binge drink as well. A person who drinks excessively in their youth is also at high risk of continuing the behaviour into adulthood and developing an alcohol use disorder.

Why do People Binge Drink ?

Sometimes it’s because of social pressure, or because they want to feel less anxious or awkward in a social setting. Young people may feel pressured to binge drinking at seasonal events, such as prom or a sporting event. But people also binge drink alone, because they want to hide the behavior from loved ones.

 Why do Teens Binge Drink ?

Liquor stores, bars, and alcoholic beverage companies make drinking seem attractive and fun. It’s easy for a high school student to get caught up in a social scene with lots of peer pressure. Inevitably, one of the biggest areas of peer pressure is drinking. Other reasons : 1. They’re curious – they want to know what it’s like to drink alcohol. 2. They believe that it will make them feel good, not realizing it could just as easily make them sick and hung-over. 3. They make look at alcohol as a way to reduce stress, even though it can end up creating more stress. 4. They want to feel older.

Binge Drinking in India :

Alcohol is banned in some parts of India such as Manipur and Gujarat, but it is legally consumed in the majority of states. There are believed to be 62.5 million people in India who at least occasionally drink alcohol. Unlike many western countries the consumption of alcohol in India is witnessing a dramatic rise- for instance, between 1970 and 1995 there was a 106.7% increase in the per captia (this means per individual in the population) consumption.

International brewers and distillers of alcoholic beverages are keen to become popular in India, because it is potentially offers the third largest market for their product globally. India has also become one of the largest producers of alcohol-it produces 65% of alcoholic beverages in South-East Asia. Most urban areas have witnessed an explosion in the number of bars and nightclubs that have opened in recent years.An average Indian drinks 5.7 litres of alcohol a year and states earn over Rs.2 trillion.

In fact the most dangerous pattern of drinking is binge drinking where the individual consumes an excessive amount in a short period of time. The individual might only drink once or twice a week but they can still suffer from negative consequences such as:

• If the person’s blood alcohol concentration rises too fast it can lead to alcohol poisoning. This state of inebriation can be potentially fatal.

• Binge drinkers can cause damage to almost every organ in their body- it can also lead to fatty liver which is the first stage in alcoholic liver disease.

 • This pattern of drinking puts the individual at risk of developing alcoholism. Once the individual reaches this stage it can mean that alcohol completely takes over their life.

 • It can lead to blackouts- this is where people have no memory of their actions for a period of time.

 • Some people react badly to intoxication. They can become aggressive and do things they later regret.

• Hangovers can mean that the individual is unable to fulfill their responsibilities the next day after binge drinking.

 • It can trigger symptoms of depression.

Drinking Culture In India :

India is a vast sub-continent and the drinking habits vary greatly between the different states. It is therefore impossible to describe a single drinking culture for the whole of India. Those who live in the south western state of Kerala are the heaviest drinkers. Other areas of the continent where people tend to drink relatively heavily include Haryana and Punjab.

 In some parts of India there is hardly any drinking culture to speak of- in some of these places alcohol is banned completely. In recent years there has been a noticeable rise in the number of urban males who claim to use alcohol as a means to relax. It still tends to be the poor and those who live in rural areas that are the highest consumers of alcohol. It is believed that as little as little as 5% of alcohol consumers are female- although this figure is higher in some states.

Drinking Statistics for India :

Indians prefer hard liquors and distilled spirits over beers- 80% of consumption involves these stronger beverages. It is suggested that 20% of the population has at least tried alcohol. In the past two decades the number of people who have consumed alcohol has moved from 1 in 300 to 1 in 20. The Lancet reported that more than half of those who consume alcohol in India would fall into the category of hazardous drinking. Another concern is the increasing tendency to engage in binge drinking where people deliberately become intoxicated.

Alcohol Abuse in India :

India once had a reputation as having a culture that promoted abstinence towards drugs like alcohol. Things have changed and there is now serious problems arising due to alcohol abuse- some would say that there were always problems associated with alcohol use in India but in the past it was less reported.

The implications for this rise in alcohol related problems include:

 • An increasing number of people are becoming

 • Domestic and sexual abuse is often associated with alcohol abuse.

 • This type of behavior can be damaging to communities.

• Those individuals who engage in this type of behavior can begin to fail in their ability to meet family, social, and work commitments.

 • Families can suffer financially as a result of this type of substance abuse.

• Business and the economy suffer because of lost productivity with people coming to work still suffering from the effects of alcohol.

 • Drink driving is responsible for many road deaths.

Underage Drinking in India :

Underage drinking is becoming a problem in India. Different states will have different age limits for alcohol consumption- the age limit in those states where it is legal to drink range from 18 to 27 years old. It is common for people to begin drinking before the legal age limit.

The problems of underage drinking include:

• For those young people who are still in adolescence, it can interfere with their normal development if they consume alcohol. This type of behavior can particularly interfere with crucial mental development that occurs at this age.

 • Underage drinking is closely related to teen suicide.

 • It encourages sexual promiscuity.

 • Those people who drink at an early age are far more likely to develop alcoholism.

• It can mean that these young people perform badly at school or college. This means that their opportunities in the future will be limited.

• Even those who are young can develop alcoholism and all the physical and mental problems that come with this.

• There are many teenagers who use alcohol as a stepping stone to harder drugs.

Impact of Alcoholism on Society :

The real-world impact of alcohol abuse reaches far beyond the financial costs. When a loved one has a problem with alcohol, it can affect their marriage and their extended family. There’s also the larger impact on the community, schools, the workplace, the health care system and on society as a whole.

How Alcoholism Affects Society :

Approximately 14 million people in the United States meet the criteria for severe alcohol use disorders and alcohol is involved in more than 88,000 deaths per year. But it’s not necessarily people who have alcohol addiction having the biggest impact on these fingers. It’s estimated that more than 75 percent of the cost of excessive alcohol consumption in the U.S. is due to binge drinking, and most binge drinkers are not alcohol- dependent.

Healthcare Costs of Alcohol Abuse : Alcohol consumption is a risk factor in numerous chronic diseases and conditions, and alcohol plays a significant role in certain cancers, psychiatric conditions, and numerous cardiovascular and digestive diseases. Additionally, alcohol consumption can increase the risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. An estimated $28 billion is spent each year on alcohol- related health care.

Alcohol- Related Aggression and Violence :

Along with unintentional injury, alcohol plays a significant role in intentional injuries as a result of aggression and violence, Alcohol has been linked to physical violence by a variety of research studies. On top of the healthcare cost of alcohol-related intentional violence in the United States, the estimated annual cost to the criminal justice system is another estimated $25billion.

Effects of Alcoholism on the Family :

The social impact of alcohol abuse is a separate issue from the financial costs involved, and that impact begins in the home, extends into the community, and often affects society as whole, much like the financial impact does. Research on the effects of alcohol abuse on families shows that alcohol abuse and addiction plays a role in intimate partner violence, causes families financial problems, impairs decision-making skills, and plays a role in child neglect and abuse.

As with the financial costs of alcohol abuse, studies have found occasional binge drinking can affect families also. One study revealed that “spousal violence is more likely not only when a partner is an infrequent drinker who occasionally drinks heavily.”

Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Children :

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is one of the most common direct consequences of parental alcohol use in the United States, caused by alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy. Children who grow up in a home with a loved one dealing with alcohol addiction may be affected as well; they are at significant to develop alcohol use disorders themselves. Growing up in a home where at least one parent has a severe alcohol use disorder can increase a child’s chances of developing psychological and emotional problems.

Short And Long-Term Effects of Binge Drinking :

Binge Drinking is a dangerous habit that can cause both short-term and long-term physical and emotional effects on a person. The more a person participates in binge drinking , the more severe these effects will be. Bing Drinking is an epidemic that has become increasingly popular in the United States , especially on college campuses. Struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction- which can often result in regular binge drinking – is difficult to cope with and overcome on one’s own. Luckily, Addiction Campuses offers a number of programs to help individuals get and stay sober and reclaim their lives and health.

Short-Term Effects of Binge Drinking :

Binge Drinking can have a number of dangerous and even deadly short-terms effects. This is true for both individuals who regularly participate in binge drinking and for those who binge drink only once or twice. In fact, an estimated half of all alcohol- related deaths are due to “acute” intoxication, or intoxication that happens in a short period of time.

A few of the many short-term effects of binge drinking include:

• acute inflammation of the liver, stomach, and pancreas • high blood pressure

 • irregular heartbeat

 • sudden death due to heart failure

 • dehydration

 • low levels of electrolytes like sodium and potassium

• inhibition of the gag reflex, which can result in infection and inflammation in the lungs

 • increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

 • dangerously low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) • blackouts

• increased risk of injury or death.

 Additionally, binge drinking can result in alcohol poisoning, which can be deadly if not treated properly and immediately.

 Depression of the gag reflex can also result if someone has passed out and chokes on his or her vomit. What’s more, binge drinking can also have effects that impact a person’s social and professional life as well. For example, a person who binge drinks may miss work or school due to a hangover or illness, which could eventually lead to poor performance and work- or school-related consequences.

Long-Term Effects of Binge Drinking :

In addition to short-terms effects, binge drinking can have significant long-term effects as well. The more a person participates in binge drinking, the more likely he or she is to experience long-term damage.

Long-Term Effects of Binge Drinking may include :

• suppressed immune system, which can make it difficult to recover from illness or injury

• anemia

• malnutrition as a result of the body’s inability to absorb vitamins and nutrients

• reduced fertility

• alcohol dependence and addiction

 • mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression

• increased risk of stroke

• osteoporosis as a result of inadequate absorption of calcium • chronic high blood pressure

 • alcohol-related liver disease

• nerve damage

• seizures

• increased risk of various types of cancer

Conclusion :

Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity. While it carries connotations of pleasure and sociability in the minds of many, harmful consequences of its use are diverse and widespread. From a global perspective, in order to reduce the harm caused by alcohol, policies need to take into account specific situations in different societies. Average volumes consumed and patterns of drinking are two dimensions of alcohol consumption that need to be considered in efforts to reduce the burden of alcohol-related problems. Avoiding the combination of drinking and driving is an example of measures that can reduce the health burden of alcohol. Worldwide, alcohol takes an enormous toll on lives and communities, especially in developing countries and its contribution to the overall burden of disease is expected to increase in the future. Particularly worrying trends are the increases in the average amount of alcohol consumed per person in countries such as China and India and the more harmful and risky drinking patterns among young people. It is up to both governments and concerned citizens to encourage debate and formulate effective public health policies that minimize the harm caused by alcohol.