Alcohol is the most widely used recreational drug in Australia. We have a culture of socially accepting the drinking of alcohol, with many Australians drinking after work, at barbeques, on the weekend, and at sporting events amongst other things.

What is binge drinking?  Binge Drinking is drinking heavily over a short period of time, or drinking continuously over a number of days or weeks.  It is also commonly known as 'getting smashed', or 'drinking to get drunk'.A person who binge drinks may usually have restrained drinking habits, but may frequently overindulge to an extreme level.Alternatively, someone may not necessarily set out to drink a lot, but may be unsure of their limits, resulting in drinking too much over a short period of time.You may also be more likely to binge drink if you are feeling peer pressure to do so. Or, you may be feeling anxious or socially awkward, for example at a party, and you may binge drink with the aim to reduce those feelings.

Is binge drinking harmful? Binge drinking can be immediately and directly harmful to your health. It can expose you to injury or to unnecessary risks to yourself and others.As well as having adverse short-term effects, binge drinking can also cause long-term effects on your health and well-being.

Possible effects of binge drinking

Short-term effects

• Hangovers
• Nausea
• Shakiness
• Vomiting and memory loss
• Injury to yourself

Long-term effects

• Continuous heavy drinking over a long period of time can lead to a person becoming physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol.
• Significant damage to the brain and liver.
• Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat or oesophagus
• Possible increased risk of neurological disorders, heart problems, and sexual problems (especially male impotency).
• Risk of emotional problems developing, such as depression, problems at school, work and with relationships. 

Other possible effects

• Binge drinking can lead to doing things you wouldn't normally do, such as having unprotected sex, or unwanted sex. This might lead to unwanted pregnancy, or STI's.
• Feeling bad about yourself, embarrassed by your own actions
• Vulnerability while intoxicated
• Losing friends or loved ones as a result of your behaviour
• Loss of money, after reckless spending on alcohol

What is a standard drink?  The amount of alcohol you drink is often stated in terms of 'standard drinks'. In Australia a standard drink is any drink that contains 10 grams of pure alcohol, but it is obviously difficult to know how much this is just by looking at a glass!Knowing how many standard drinks you are having may help you in managing your alcohol use. Different types of alcoholic drinks contain different amounts of pure alcohol. The following are examples of standard drinks:
• 285ml glass of beer(a middy/pot/handle)
• 100ml glass of table wine
• 30ml of spirits (1 nip)

It may be helpful to remember that alcohol is not always served as standard drinks. For more information about standard drinks check out the DrugInfo Clearinghouse (ADF) fact sheet on alcohol.

How much can you drink?  We all respond to alcohol differently, and it is important that you know your own limits, and understand how alcohol affects you as an individual. How alcohol affects you may be influenced by a number of factors, such as how much alcohol you drink, how quickly you drink it, whether you consume the alcohol with other drugs, whether you're male or female, your mood, your body type, and whether or not you've eaten.

If you have not drunken alcohol before, it may be difficult for you to know what your limits are. The first time you drink alcohol, it may be a good idea to try drinking in a safe area, where someone can help you if you drink too much. This might be at home, or at a friends place.

• No more than four standard drinks a day on average, with an occasional maximum of six standard drinks.
• One or two alcohol-free days a week.

Recommended limits for Girls

• No more than two standard drinks a day on average, with an occasional maximum of four standard drinks.
• One or two alcohol-free days a weekPlease note new guidelines will be released by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) at the end of March 2008.

Tips for controlling your drinking  There are a number of things you can do to keep your drinking under control, including the following:

• Set limits for yourself and stick to them
• Start with a non-alcoholic drink
• Try having a 'spacer' - alternating non-alcoholic drinks with alcoholic drinks
• Drink slowly. Take sips not gulps
• Try a low alcohol alternative to a pre-mixed drink
• Eat before or while you are drinking, avoid salty snacks, they make you thirsty
• Avoid rounds or 'shouts'
• Have one drink at a time, so you can keep track
• Avoid sculling competitions, and drinking games
• Stay busy - don't just sit and drink
• Be assertive - don't be pressured into drinking more than you want or intend to.

Managing alcohol intake  Managing your alcohol use may be difficult. If you reduce your alcohol use you may still crave for it for sometime afterwards. Try not to be too hard on yourself if you don't reach your immediate goal. Having to try several times may be part of reducing your use and it is important you keep trying. It may be helpful to have someone you can talk to. This may be a friend, a family member, doctor or a counsellor.