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.