As per new guidelines by health watchdogs, if you drink five drinks a day, you are considered a “heavy” drinker and, therefore, at risk for developing alcohol use disorders as well as health and other problems.
Even if you drink only three days a week, if you drink a six-pack on those days, your drinking is at harmful levels. People who drink less than the above guidelines, are at “low risk” for developing problems. That means they have about a two per cent chance of developing alcohol-related problems. The only way to be at no risk is to not drink at all.
What is binge drinking?
You may be surprised to find out how a few drinks can turn you into a binge drinker. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US, four or more drinks during a single drinking session for women and five or more drinks during a single occasion for men is considered binge drinking. In other words, if your usual drinking pattern includes drinking a six-pack or drinking an entire bottle of wine, you are a binge drinker.
According to the CDC, if you binge drink only one day a month, you are 20 per cent more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder than non-drinkers. If you binge drink once a week, your risk of developing a drinking problem rises to 33 per cent.
