Glossary - Alcohol

Binge drinking

• CDC definition:

• • • For females:  Having 4 or more drinks on an occasion in the past 30 days. (Note: A drinking occasion is considered to be approximately two hours.)
    • For males: Having 5 or more drinks on an occasion in the past 30 days. (Note: A drinking occasion is considered to be approximately two hours.)

• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism definition:

• • • For females: Having 4 or more drinks in a two hour period in the past 30 days.
    • For males: Having 5 or more drinks in a two hour period in the past 30 days.

Drinking status

• Lifetime abstainer – Fewer than 12 drinks in lifetime.
• Former infrequent drinker – Fewer than 12 drinks in any one year and no drinks in past year.
• Former regular drinker – At least 12 drinks in any one year in lifetime but no drinks in past year.
• Current infrequent drinker – 1-11 drinks in past year.
• Current light drinker – At least 12 drinks in the past year but 3 drinks or fewer per week, on average over the past year.
• Current moderate drinker – More than 3 drinks but no more than 7 drinks per week for women and more than 3 drinks but no more than 14 drinks per week for men, on average over the past year.
• Current heavier drinker – More than 7 drinks per week for women; more than 14 drinks per week for men, on average over the past year.

Heavy drinking day (also referred to as episodic heavy drinking)

• For females: Having 4 or more drinks in a single day in the past year.
• For males: Having 5 or more drinks in a single day in the past year.