CDC Report: Binge Drinking Rates in U.S. ‘Alarming’

Fox News ^ | January 10, 2012 | Colleen Cappon

[NYFreeper]

Binge drinking rates in the U.S. are at a much higher rate than previously thought, according to a report released Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC found that more than 38 million Americans binge drink four times a month—consuming an average of eight drinks each time.

And it’s not just young adults. Although it is more common between the ages of 18-34, those 65 and older reportedly binge drink more often—five to six times a month.

The frequency of binge drinking is higher in households with an income of $75,000 or more. But the disturbing data found that the highest number of drinks consumed per occasion is by people living just above or below the poverty line, with eight to nine drinks per occasion.

Binge drinking is defined by the CDC as consuming five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women on a single occasion. Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior managing health editor of FoxNews.com, said he thinks it is disturbing that Americans are drinking nearly double the amount of what is already considered too much.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/10/cdc-report-binge-drinking-rates-in-us-alarming/#ixzz1j6pCkZg7

[Varsity Flight]

**** “CDC Report: Binge Drinking Rates in U.S. Alarming**”

Coming: “CDC Mental Health Report: Gun Sales in U.S. ‘Alarming” “

[Squawk 8888]

Blame the nanny state. Here in Canada the drinking age is 19 (18 in some provinces) and it’s legal for parents to serve alcohol to their underage children; the campus pub is a social centre and many of the kids I grew up with had wine with their dinner. Binge drinking has never been a problem here.

[ThunderSleeps]

You’re right. I know my consumption of whiskey has gone up considerably during hussein’s occupation of the White House. I expect it to remain high through next January, with a spike around election time and on 1/20/13...

[onona]

I just fell out of my chair laughing !!

And the dogs are looking funny at me........

[Last Dakotan]

Mission creep - is this really a case for the Centers for Disease Control??

[Califreak]

>those 65 and older reportedly binge drink more often—five to six times a month.<

Did this start in November about 4 years ago?

[brewguru]

I worked for a beer distributor for 15 years. I always thought all the “drink responsibly” stuff was bullshit to some extent. At least so far as we all made our living off the guy that goes out and gets hammered several times a week. I don't remember the exact stats but something like 80% of the beer is drank by 20% of the beer drinkers.

I will always maintain that if you can handle your alcohol, you can pound down six or eight beers and drive, and be no danger to anyone. I have no idea how you can make the laws fair to those people though.

I literally drove drunk around 7000 times. No DUI’s or accidents. I never drank until I was falling down drunk though. I could drink beer to a point and then know I had to eat or I would puke if I had one more. Once I ate I was done for the night. I think that was really what kept me safe. It's definitely dangerous if you're one of those guys that can drink right up to passing out.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Obama drives me to drink.