@article{ref1,
title="In with the old and out with the new? A comparison of the old and new binge drinking standards",
journal="Alcoholism: clinical and experimental research",
year="2014",
author="Corbin, William R. and Zalewski, Suzanne and Leeman, Robert F. and Toll, Benjamin A. and Fucito, Lisa M. and O'Malley, Stephanie S.",
volume="38",
number="10",
pages="2657-2663",
abstract="BACKGROUND: There is consistent evidence that the binge drinking standard of 5+ drinks per drinking occasion for men (4+ for women) is associated with risk for negative consequences. Yet, many have questioned the adequacy of this measure as an index of intoxication (e.g., a blood alcohol concentration [BAC] of 0.08 g%). In response to these concerns, a National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism task force recommended adding a time qualifier of 2 hours to this criterion. Although conceptually appealing, there has been little effort to determine whether this new measure better captures drinking that leads to negative consequences. <br><br>METHODS: This study examined the new binge standard (2-hour period) and old binge standard (no time qualifier) in relation to frequency of drinking to an estimated BAC of 0.08 g% and the experience of negative drinking consequences. These relations were examined within both a social drinking sample of adults (N = 200) and a sample of heavy-drinking young adults (N = 168) participating in a randomized clinical trial for drinking reduction. <br><br>RESULTS: Contrary to the purpose of adding a time qualifier, the new binge measure was not more strongly correlated with drinking to an estimated BAC of 0.08 g% relative to the old binge measure. In addition, when both measures were entered simultaneously into a regression model, only the old binge measure accounted for significant variance in negative drinking consequences. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These empirically based results suggest that the original binge standard without a time qualifier may be preferable to the 2-hour standard as a marker for risk. The findings also suggest that further efforts are needed to identify a brief measure that effectively captures drinking to intoxication and related risk for negative consequences.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0145-6008",
doi="10.1111/acer.12514",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/acer.12514"
}