Binge Drinking seems to be the latest trend amongst youngsters (well, to be fair the media aim it at youngsters). However, it comes with serious health hazards. Binge drinking is basically nothing but drinking excessively once in a while, with the primary objective of getting intoxicated. Alcohol has many long term effects, which makes binge drinking a serious health hazard.

One of the dangers of binge drinking is social harm. Since binge drinking usually happens in large groups, it can often be even termed as ‘social drinking’. However, there is a huge difference. People who engage in social drinking are usually trying to have a drink or two with friends while they catch up in each other’s life. Binge drinking is something totally different. Here, young people get together with the sole objective to get drunk. Bars and pubs make drinking seem like the “Cool” thing to do, which makes more and more people indulge. In fact, by definition a person is said to engage in binge drinking if he or she has more than 5 drinks in a row, more than once a week. Many people also indulge in other unlawful activities under the effect of alcohol. If you believe the reports it also leads to increases in the consumption of drugs, unprotected sex and even violent behavior.

Binge drinking can result in some severe health hazards. Cardiac problems, neurological problems and psychiatric disorders are all results of repeated binge drinking episodes. In fact, women who binge drink during pregnancy can give birth to deformed babies or may even miscarry. Binge drinking also results in alcohol poisoning, which will affect the body’s reflexes. They can choke to death on their vomit, have seizures, experience irregular breathing and also suffer from extreme confusion that can lead to accidents and finally death.

Excessive drinking impairs judgment, which in itself can lead to dangerous outcome. People do things under the effect of alcohol that they’d never dream of doing otherwise. Binge drinking can affect judgment enough for a person to make gross mistakes he or she will regret forever.  Many people believe that they can indulge in binge drinking if they aren’t the designated driver for the night. However, excessive drinking affects more than your driving skills, it can be difficult to even walk in a straight line and many people are reported to fall on stairs and break their hands, legs or even neck.

Economic harm is another serious danger of binge drinking. Since a person is constantly buying drinks, it can lead to over expenditure. Many a times, people binge drinking at bars and pubs end up buying drinks for their friends as well under the effect f alcohol. It’s only when they sober up do they realize they were already neck deep in debt and could ill-afford their indulgence.

Binge drinking is bad for your mind, body as well as pocket. It must be avoided as much as possible.

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