Posted on 01/26/2012 11:11:27 AM PST by neverdem
Back in 2003, responding to a CDC report on binge drinking, I noted that "one man's dinner party is another man's binge—especially if the other man has a degree in public health." Based on more recent survey data, the CDC now warns that "binge drinking* is a bigger problem than previously thought," involving 38 million American adults. That asterisk is well-earned, because the CDC continues to define "binge drinking" as "men drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks within a short period of time or women drinking 4 or more drinks within a short period of time." If a "short period of time" meant 15 minutes, most Americans (except the ones who are currently binge drinking) probably would agree this pattern of consumption is excessive. But the questionnaire used to generate the CDC's data actually asks about drinks consumed "on an occasion," which could refer to an evening, a day, or a two-week cruise. Even if we pick the shortest of these periods, an after-work cocktail plus a few glasses of wine during dinner, followed by a digestif or nightcap, would be enough to qualify as a binge.
"To a person who drinks several glasses of wine while dining out or during a party with friends," concedes New York Times health writer Tara Parker-Pope, "the idea of consuming four or five drinks in an evening may not sound excessive for the circumstances." But did you know "this level of drinking would typically raise blood alcohol levels to 0.08 percent and make a person legally impaired to drive"? Not only that, but "a large body of evidence shows that drinking at that level is associated with a number of health hazards, including car accidents, injuries, violence and risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease." According to the CDC, this scientific evidence conclusively...
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Ha!
That makes you an honorary Irishman, too.
That sounds like Newfi Screech to me ...
LOL!!!
I'm drinking brake fluid right now!!
But I can stop anytime I want!!
I’m Irish, Scottish, and part Cherokee on my dad’s side (great-great grandpa was full-blooded Indian). German/French on my mom’s side. I’m covered every which way from Sunday ;)
“That makes you an honorary Irishman, too”
I sending him his card his honorary Mick card in the mail as we speak. LOL!
If Barry had cut his SOTU speech by 5 minutes I would never have had that 4th glass of wine. LOL!!
Back in the 70's my cousin and I used to buy some cheap wine and drink it. He was some Creek and some Potawatomi, I'm just some Potawatomi. We both liked to drink...but he would get nuts.
It's an Indian thing....
I consider zero's presidency responsible. I've sure been drinking a lot more the last three years!
Not when X has been redefined to include more "problems".
Good Lord! You don't even have to drink to have an elevated blood alcohol content! ;o)
I have a real low tolerance but once I get my drinkin shoes on.. . look out!
What is considered Binge Drinking by the CDC is just getting warmed up here in Wisconsin.
In the words of Lewis Black...”You guys are professionals”.
The CDC speaketh with forked tongue and the truth not in them.
LOL!
Seriously, my husband knows what kind of day I’ve had if he sees a glass of red wine in my hand when he gets home from work ;)
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