While consuming alcohol can be safe in moderation, binge drinking has many unintended side effects on your personal and even professional life. Discover some unexpected ways that drinking excessively can impact your life and your health.
What Is Binge Drinking?
First, it’s important to understand the definition of moderate drinking versus binge drinking. A standard drink is equal to 14.0 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol.
Moderate drinking is defined as:
- Women: One drink
- Men: Two drinks
Binge drinking is defined as:
- Women: Consuming four or more drinks in a single session for women
- Men: Five or more drinks during a single session for men
Contrary to popular belief, most people who drink excessively are not alcoholics.
Reduced Productivity at Work
For most, drinking on the job is obviously frowned upon, but even indulging outside of work hours can have a negative impact on your professional life.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 15% of U.S. workers report being impaired by alcohol at work at least one time during the past year, and 9% of workers reported being hungover at work.
Drinking excessively leads to performance-hindering side effects like poor sleep. Alcohol can help you fall asleep, but it ultimately prevents you from falling into REM sleep. This is the restorative, good quality sleep that everyone needs.
With this in mind, it’s little wonder that drinking outside of work hours has also been linked to the frequency of absenteeism, feeling sick at work and sleeping on the job according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Higher Levels of Anxiety and Depression
One of the most overlooked consequences of drinking is increased anxiety and depression. Although consuming alcohol initially leads to feelings of relaxation, the effect is not long-lasting. It can increase your risk of anxiety, depression, and even suicide.
Lowered inhibitions when binge drinking can lead to risky or socially unacceptable behaviors, potentially causing feelings of shame or regret when they return to their normal mental state. This can increase feelings of anxiety after a binge drinking session.
The Mental Health Foundation has also found that regularly consuming alcohol at excessive levels decreases the level of serotonin in your brain — a chemical that affects mood and depression. In the long term, this can create a habit of alcohol dependence.
Increased Risk for Certain Diseases
Many chronic conditions have been linked to excessive alcohol consumption, including:
- High blood pressure
- Liver cirrhosis (liver cell damage)
- Pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation)
- Some cancers, including breast, liver, mouth, throat, larynx, and esophagus
- Stroke or dementia
- Heart disease
- Mental health disorders
Higher Likelihood of Injury or Death
People who binge drink are more likely to find themselves in high-risk scenarios or incur injuries while performing day-to-day activities. Binge drinking increases your risk for accidents, traumas, injuries, and social or legal issues.
While there are many potential scenarios that could cause injury or bodily harm while drinking excessively, falling, risky sexual behaviors, violence, and car accidents are the most common.
Unfortunately, driving while intoxicated is one of the most prevalent and risky behaviors people engage in after binge drinking. In total, more than 85,000 deaths a year in the United States are directly attributed to alcohol use.
