Bingeing is an overlooked risk

In many places most alcohol drinking occasions are binges, increasing the risk of depression, anxiety, suicide, accidents, violence, alcohol dependence, and dementia, says a new report from Sweden. The pattern is also very common among people who drink what would be a low-risk total for a week in binges. To avoid taking the significant risks of bingeing means never drinking more than 75ml of alcohol on any one occasion. This may mean an upper limit of around three beers on any one occasion, something that is likely to be challenging. ■