Consequences of Binge Drinking
Researchers point to the ‘lack of longitudinal studies to determine the relationship between patterns of alcohol consumption and the development of diseases. The few existing studies include:
A Finnish study showing that the relative risk of death from all cause mortality for middle-aged men who usually binge on six or more bottles of beer compared to those who usually drink three or less bottles, from all causes mortality increased by 3.01. The relative risk of death for the first group from from fatal myocardial infarction (sudden cardiac death) increased by 6.5. The clear association between this pattern of drinking and increased risk of death was not explained by total alcohol consumption.
An association between binge drinking and cardiovascular disease is also highlighted in a study by McKee et al looking into the significant increase in sudden cardiac death at weekends among young and early middle-aged men in Moscow. The study concludes that in binge drinking the cardio-protective benefit of regular moderate alcohol drinking does not apply. McKee identifies four main mechanisms by which binge drinking can cause cardiovascular disease:
- affecting the type and density of lipoproteins present in the body
- increasing the risk of thrombosis
- having an adverse effect on the myocardial conducting system
- causing acute or sustained hypertension (high blood pressure)
The British Medical Journal from January 2000 published the results of a Scottish health survey between 1986-1995 which found an excess of deaths from coronary heart disease on Mondays (3% above the daily averages) among people, including those under fifty, with no previous hospital admission for this disease. The authors of this study argued that these deaths were partly attributable to weekend binge drinking.
The latter two studies point to the clear need for further research into the link between binge drinking or heavy episodic drinking and heart disease.
Behavioural consequences
Behavioural consequences of binge-drinking are very apparent, particularly to those working in emergency services with responsibility for mopping up the consequences of people’s drinking:
Behavioural consequences include:
Accidents
25% of all alcohol-related deaths are due to accidents and it is estimated that alcohol is a factor in 20-30% of all accidents. The DETR estimated that in 1997 nearly 2% of drivers/riders breathalysed following road accidents failed the test with 4.45 of male drivers/riders aged 20-24 failing the test. Over a third of pedestrians killed in road accidents had more alcohol in their blood stream than the legal drink drive limit.
Violence
In 41% of ‘contact crime’ the victim said the offender had been drinking. This included 32% of incidents of domestic violence, 17% of muggings, 53% of assaults by a stranger and 45% of assaults by an acquaintance. Violence is now a leading cause of facial injury in Britain with a recent survey estimating that 125,000 people out of a total of half a million, incur the injury in violent circumstances. In 61% of these cases either the victim or assailant had been drinking alcohol. Research undertaken in Cardiff and Bristol A&E departments provides clear evidence of the ‘increased vulnerability of binge drinkers to injury’, particularly to assault’. Poor social behaviour – an HEA survey (1996) found that one in five men admitted to having an argument after drinking in the previous year and more than one third had witnessed a fight between people who had been drinking. Among 16-24 year olds 42% of men and 25% of women said they had had an argument after drinking and almost seven out of ten had witnessed a fight after people had been drinking.
Drunkenness
A Home Office report recorded that in 1995 19,789 people in England and Wales were found 28 guilty of offences of drunkenness, and police formally cautioned a further 22,809.
Workplace
8-14 million days are lost each year in the UK as a result of alcohol-related problems. A 1998 Institute of Personnel and Development survey of personnel professions found that 46% of firms experienced problems with alcohol misuse in 1997-1998 (up on 11% on 1996).
Unsafe sex
Possibly leading to unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Bagnall and Plant (1991) reported that in a group study of 16-30 year olds 82% of respondents reported drinking prior to engaging in sexual activity. A 1998 HEA survey of 16-24 year olds found that after drinking alcohol:
- one in seven have had unsafe sex (i.e. without using a condom)
- one in 5 had sex they later regretted
- one in ten were unable to remember whether they had sex the night before
- 40% agreed that they would be more likely to have casual sex.
