WASHINGTON — When compared to people in other states, D.C. residents are some of the “drunkest” in the nation. But folks who live in the D.C.-metro area don’t drink nearly as much.
The numbers come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which looked at the prevalence of binge drinking.
“Binge drinking is basically drinking to acute intoxication,” says Dr. Bob Brewer, with the alcohol program at the CDC.
The clinical definition of binge drinking is consuming at least four drinks for women or at least five drinks for men on one occasion.
In 2013, about 22.4 percent of District residents reported binge drinking, which ranked them third among states behind North Dakota and Wisconsin. Virginia and Maryland were well behind, with 16 percent of Virginians binge drinking (ranking 32nd) and 14.2 percent of Maryland residents binge drinking (ranking 40th).
Among cities, the D.C. metro area ranked 87th out of 180. That only includes the District, Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, Arlington County, Calvert County, Charles County, Clarke County, Fairfax County, Fauquier County, Jefferson County, Loudoun County, Prince George’s County, Prince William County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County and Warren County.
Frederick and Montgomery counties were labeled as the Silver Spring-Frederick-Rockville metro division and ranked 119th.
The Baltimore area ranked higher than D.C., coming in 71st. That area includes Baltimore city, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County and Queen Anne’s County.
“Alcohol consumption is actually very sensitive to price,” explained Brewer. “A 10 percent increase in the price of alcohol tends to reduce the amount of alcohol consumption across various types of beverages by about 7 percent.”
Brewer also says accessibility is a big factor. More bars and liquor stores per capita often means a higher percentage of binge drinking.
But, binge drinking only happens during holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, right?
Wrong.
“One in six adults binge drinks an average of about four times a month and consumes an average of about eight drinks a binge,” Brewer said. That means many people binge drink once a week.
And that binge drinking can lead to serious dangers.
“Different types of cancers,” Brewer says. “Breast cancer is actually one that has been very strongly associated with alcohol consumption.”
And in the short term, binge drinking can lead to potentially fatal vehicle accidents, violence and other preventable dangers.
