Holder, Harold D and Naimi, Timothy and Stockwell, Tim and Andreasson, Sven and Chikritzhs, Tanya and Dangardt, Frida (2026) Binge drinking: acute consequences and lasting impacts. Alcohol and society 2026. Stockholm: Svensk Sjuksköterskeförening, SFAM, SAFF, CERA IOGT i Norge, Hjärnfonden, Movendi International, SLAN, KSAN, NSF, KF Länken, FAS-föreningen, Frisksport, Sveriges Blåbandsungdom, Junis, UNF & IOGT-NTO.
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- Binge drinking is typically defined as drinking 5 or more drinks per occasion. This is sometimes modified to 4 or more drinks per women or may be defined by grams of ethanol (e.g., 60 grams) given the variability in standard drink sizes internationally.
- In recent decades overall levels of binge drinking in Sweden, Norway and Denmark have been steady at between 30 and 35% but with some divergent trends by age and gender.
- While the major contribution to road crashes, violence and poisoning (i.e., acute effects) is widely understood, the enduring effects of binge drinking on dementia, alcohol dependence and chronic disease in later life are largely overlooked.
- Rapid alcohol use on a binge drinking occasion overwhelms the body’s ability to process alcohol, leading to oxidative stress and to an increase in acetaldehyde, a dangerous metabolite and a major carcinogen.
- The body’s increased exposure to high blood alcohol concentrations, to acetaldehyde concentrations and to oxidative stress leads to impairments in the short-term and risks enduring toxic and carcinogenic impacts on all organs.
- The extent of binge drinking is largely underestimated. Among people who drink within ‘moderate’ levels on average (e.g., up to one or to drinks per day), the majority also engage in occasional binge drinking.
Item Type
Report
Publication Type
International, Report
Drug Type
Alcohol
Intervention Type
Prevention, Harm reduction
Date
2026
Pages
52 p.
Publisher
Svensk Sjuksköterskeförening, SFAM, SAFF, CERA IOGT i Norge, Hjärnfonden, Movendi International, SLAN, KSAN, NSF, KF Länken, FAS-föreningen, Frisksport, Sveriges Blåbandsungdom, Junis, UNF & IOGT-NTO
Place of Publication
Stockholm
EndNote
Subjects
A Substance use and dependence > Prevalence
A Substance use and dependence > Prevalence > Substance use behaviour > Alcohol consumption > Binge / risky / heavy episodic drinking
A Substance use and dependence > Prevalence > Substance use behaviour > Alcohol consumption
A Substance use and dependence > Substance related societal (social) problems / harms > Alcohol / drinking and driving
G Health and disease > State of health > Mental health
G Health and disease > Pathology > Cancer
G Health and disease > Disease by cause (Aetiology) > Foetal, infant, newborn diseases (reproductive effects) > Foetal (fetal) alcohol syndrome / spectrum disorder
G Health and disease > Digestive / endocrine system disease > Liver disease
MM-MO Crime and law > Crime and violence > Crime against persons (assault / abuse)
MM-MO Crime and law > Crime and violence > Crime against persons (assault / abuse) > Intimate partner abuse (domestic violence)
MM-MO Crime and law > Crime and violence > Crime against persons (assault / abuse) > Sexual violence
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Policy > Policy on substance use
T Demographic characteristics > Adolescent / youth (teenager / young person)
T Demographic characteristics > Young adult
T Demographic characteristics > Elderly / Older person
T Demographic characteristics > Gender / sex differences
T Demographic characteristics > Child of person who uses substances
VA Geographic area > International
A Substance use and dependence > Prevalence > Substance use behaviour > Alcohol consumption > Binge / risky / heavy episodic drinking
A Substance use and dependence > Prevalence > Substance use behaviour > Alcohol consumption
A Substance use and dependence > Substance related societal (social) problems / harms > Alcohol / drinking and driving
G Health and disease > State of health > Mental health
G Health and disease > Pathology > Cancer
G Health and disease > Disease by cause (Aetiology) > Foetal, infant, newborn diseases (reproductive effects) > Foetal (fetal) alcohol syndrome / spectrum disorder
G Health and disease > Digestive / endocrine system disease > Liver disease
MM-MO Crime and law > Crime and violence > Crime against persons (assault / abuse)
MM-MO Crime and law > Crime and violence > Crime against persons (assault / abuse) > Intimate partner abuse (domestic violence)
MM-MO Crime and law > Crime and violence > Crime against persons (assault / abuse) > Sexual violence
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Policy > Policy on substance use
T Demographic characteristics > Adolescent / youth (teenager / young person)
T Demographic characteristics > Young adult
T Demographic characteristics > Elderly / Older person
T Demographic characteristics > Gender / sex differences
T Demographic characteristics > Child of person who uses substances
VA Geographic area > International
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