Drinking Frequency Can Predict Bingeing, Study Says

Individuals who drink more than twice a week are more likely to engage in heavy or binge drinking, according to researchers from the University of Montreal and the University of Western Ontario who studied drinking patterns by gender and age group.

ScienceDaily reported May 29 that while infrequent drinkers in Canada rarely consume more than two servings of alcohol at a sitting, individuals who drink three of four times per week are more likely to have five or more drinks per occasion. The association between drinking frequency and quantity was especially strong among young males, the authors said.

Many frequent imbibers drink beer, wine or liquor for its mood-altering effects, the researchers noted. “Regular drinking builds up tolerance; therefore, daily drinkers will need more than their usual drink or two to make a difference with everyday life and gain that festive feeling,” said lead author Catherine Paradis. “That fosters drinking beyond healthy limits — at least sporadically and perhaps weekly — to five drinks or more per occasion. And five units is above the recommended limits of healthy drinking.”

The researchers drew their conclusions from research on about 11,000 people who were asked about their drinking frequency and consumption as part of the GENACIS Canada project.

The findings were published online in the journal Addiction.