CDC Reports Binge Drinking Becoming More Excessive Especially Among Middle-Aged Men
A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is revealing an alarming trend in binge drinking, particularly for middle-aged men. The organization is finding that binge drinking is on the rise, especially for men aged 35-44.
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The research demonstrated that the annual number of binge drinks Americans consume on average has risen from 472 per year in 2011 to 529 per year in 2017. More specifically, some of the biggest increases occurred in middle-aged American males, aged 35-44, who saw a rise from 468 drinks per year in 2011 to 593 in 2017.
Men from 45 to 64 years also saw some significant increases going from 428 drinks in 2011 to 527 drinks per year in 2017. The data was also separated by race.
American Indian and Alaska Natives, followed by whites, were found to have the biggest increase in binge drinking while Asian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanics showed the lowest increase.
The study was conducted on data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS is a random monthly telephone survey of adults across the U.S.
The problem with this data is that it is self-reported, therefore the numbers may not be correct. Still, the study offers an eye-opening insight into drinking in the U.S.
Serious health consequences
“Binge-drinking or the practice of drinking multiple drinks in a row for the sole purpose of getting drunk can have some serious health consequences,” Jennifer Wider, MD, a woman’s health expert, and author told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“To start with, the risk of injuries — which are unintentional — goes way up. Drunk driving, accidents, alcohol poisoning, nonconsensual sexual encounters, sexually transmitted diseases, and alcohol dependence all rise when men or women partake in binge-drinking on a regular basis.”