Most alcohol-impaired drivers binge drink, the Centers for Disease Control report says, and the risky behavior exists in all states, causing more than half of the 80,000 deaths and three-quarters of the $223.5 billion in economic costs. Binge drinking means men drinking 5 or more drinks within a short period of time and women drinking 4 or more drinks.  "What is different with this study is we studied the frequency and the intensity, and the number of episodes by different groups," says author and the CDC's alcohol program lead Robert Brewer. "The frequency is very high and the amount consumed was also very high. "  The authors analyzed self-reported data collected during 2010 of U.S. adults ages 18 and older in 48 states and the District of Columbia.  "As dramatic as these findings are they're probably a good bit higher," says Brewer. "We've done comparisions between what people report they drink and what is sold. We're probably picking up less than a third of alcohol consumption."  •The prevalence was twice as likely among men (23%) as that of women (11.4%).  •Highest prevalence of binge drinking is among those between 18 and 34 years old.  •Highest frequency is among 65-plus group.  •Income group most likely to binge drink is more than $75,000.  •Income group that binge drinks most often and drinks the most per binge is less than $25,000.  •Most people who binge drink are not alcoholic.  "We're not meaning to suggest there isn't a proportion of people who are binge drinking or who are not alcohol dependent," says Brewer. "And we're not trying to diminish the importance of alcohol dependence. It's just that the large majority of people would not meet the medical definition of alcholic."  The report does not look at how the recession impacts binge drinking.  "Unfortuantely it trucked on at a high rate," says Brewer.
One in six adults is  a binge drinker, consuming an average of eight drinks per occasion and doing so about four times a month.