1. Alcohol, Binge, and Blackouts

2. Alcohol Alcohol #1 abused drug in the US
As much as half of all criminal violence and automobile fatalities are due to drunkenness.

3. Conceptualization of social drinker (drinks occasionally) /heavy drinker (drink more than an ounce a day; more than 14 drinks in a week)/Alcoholic (dependence on alcohol/compulsion to drink)
Problem drinker label-those who experience a problem from their drinking not based on frequency like the previous definitions

4. Alcohol
Except for sensor motor impairment, the way, people behavior when they are drunk is largely socio-culturally learned. Intoxicated behavior patterns follow the norms in particular types of bars (e.g. neighborhood bars, sports bars, pickup bars) and the drinker’s desires for others to see them as philosophers, lovers, or fighters (Bogg and Ray,1990)
Alcohol consumption patterns vary by country. Italy has high consumption but low rate of alcoholism.

5. Alcohol Binge drinking is common among adolescents and young adults.
Heavy drinking patterns are common among young adults especially college students.
Dawson and colleagues* reported that college students are more likely to participate in heavy episodic (or binge) drinking than their non-college peers.
SOURCE: * Dawson, D.A.; Grant, B.F.; Stinson, F.S.; et al. Another look at heavy episodic drinking and alcohol use disorders among college and noncollege youth. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 65(4):477–488, PMID:

6. College Students Drinking
Prevalence of Drinking: In 2012, 60.3 percent of college students ages 18–22 drank alcohol in the past month compared with 51.9 percent of same-age peers not in college.  
Prevalence of Binge Drinking: 40.1 percent of college students ages 18–22 engaged in binge drinking (5 or more drinks on an occasion) in the past month compared with 35 percent of same-age peers not in college.  
Prevalence of Heavy Drinking: 14.4 percent of college students ages 18–22 engaged in heavy drinking (5 or more drinks on an occasion on 5 or more occasions per month) in the past month compared with 10.7 percent of same-age peers not in college. 
Drunk Driving: College students have higher incidence of drunk driving than their non­college peers.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

7. Each year, drinking affects college students, as well as college communities, and families. The problem with college drinking is not necessarily the drinking itself, but the negative consequences that result from excessive drinking. The consequences of drinking include:
Death: 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries.  
Assault: More than 690,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.  
Sexual Abuse: More than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.  
Injury: 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 receive unintentional injuries while under the influence of alcohol.  
Academic Problems: About 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinking including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

8. More students drink to get drunk
Choose hard liquor over beer
Front load (drink in advance)
Goal of many is to black out.

9. Alcohol
The probability that one drinks stays high up to about 35 (Akers, 1992). Many drinkers decrease their consumption, though some make continue heavy drinking.
Two-thirds of Americans drink. 10 percent of the drinkers who drink the most account for fully half of all alcohol consumed. The other 90% of the drinkers (infrequent /light /moderate) consume the other half.
Most drinkers do not become alcoholics. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism estimates as much as 10% of adult American drinkers will likely experience either alcoholism or problem drinking at some point in their lives and that around 7% meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or alcoholism.