Health Tip: Binge Drinking's Risks

Binge drinking occurs when the number of alcoholic drinks consumed in a short period raises a person's blood alcohol level to 0.08 grams percent or above, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This works out to consuming in two hours about five drinks for the average man and four drinks for the average woman, the agency said.

The CDC cites these dangers of binge drinking:

• Increased risk of car accidents, burns, drowning and falls.
• Increased risk of involvement in assault, domestic violence or other forms of intentional injury.
• Increased risk of alcohol poisoning, and having a child with fetal alcohol syndrome.
• Increased risk of getting pregnant unintentionally or contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease, liver disease and neurological damage.
• Increased risk of poorly managed diabetes.