There is no safe level of alcohol use.
Binge drinking is when you drink 6 or more standard drinks on a single occasion. It is also called heavy episodic drinking and hazardous drinking.
Drinking too much too quickly can badly affect your health and wellbeing. It can stop your body from working properly. This puts you at greater risk of many short-term and long-term problems.
What is a standard drink
A standard drink has 10g of pure alcohol.
This is usually around a:
- half a pint of beer
- single pub measure of a spirit
- small glass of wine
But some drinks are much stronger than others. Check the label if you are not sure.
Who uses alcohol in this way
Ireland has one of the highest rates of binge drinking in the world.
This harmful pattern of drinking alcohol is most common among:
- men - almost twice as likely to binge drink than women
- young people age 15 to 24
Find out more about the type of drinker you are by taking our alcohol test.
Non-urgent advice: Get help with problem alcohol use
For confidential advice, freephone 1800 459 459.
Binge drinking and alcohol dependence
Binge drinking is usually measured by the number of drinks you have on a single occasion.
Alcohol dependence is not.
You may be dependent on alcohol if:
- you get cravings for alcohol
- having a drink is all you can think about
- you feel you need alcohol to do certain things - for example, to relax or have fun
Sometimes alcohol dependence is called alcoholism or alcohol addiction.
You need specific treatment for alcohol dependence.
Many people who binge drink are not dependent on alcohol. But binge drinking is still very harmful.
Risks from binge drinking
Drinking a lot of alcohol on a single occasion can cause serious harm to your health and wellbeing.
It takes most people 1 to 2 hours to process 1 standard drink. By drinking more than this, you are drinking more than you can process. This means you can become drunk very quickly.
Immediate effects
In the short term, binge drinking can increase your risk of:
- alcohol poisoning
- accidents resulting in injury or death
- blackouts
- doing things you would not usually do - for example, arguing with someone or having unprotected sex
- losing your inhibitions
- increased risk-taking
- becoming a victim of crime
- self-harm
- suicide
Long-term effects
Regular binge drinking can lead to serious health conditions such as some types of cancer.
It can also cause problems with your:
- liver
- stomach
- heart and blood pressure
- kidneys
- balance and coordination
- memory
- attention and concentration
- mental health, such as depression
Reduce your risk of harm
Reduce your risk of alcohol-related harm.
Stick to the recommended weekly low-risk guidelines.
The less you drink, the lower your risk of harm from alcohol.
How to stop binge drinking
If you binge drink, you are likely to find it hard to stop drinking after just 1 or 2 drinks.
You may keep drinking for many reasons, including:
- peer pressure
- stress
- social anxiety
There are things you can do to change your habits and take back control of your drinking.
For example:
Contact your GP if:
- you are worried about your drinking and need advice about how to cut down or stop