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I Think this is no surprise to any of us:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-warn...ing-americans/

It's about time the press acknowledges the epidemic.

I didn't find the article too be much of a surprise unfortunately.

I did find the following to be interesting "Most of these heavy drinkers are not alcoholics, but are referred to as binge drinkers. That means they drink four or more alcoholic drinks in a two to three hour sitting for women or five drinks for men during the same time frame."

Is there a definition where this was pulled from? Looks like I am no longer an alcoholic, you can just call me a bringer drinker. Interesting as I see no mention to the frequency at which people binge drinking mentioned in this article.

It's not very well written and I agree that definition goes against most literature I've read that would be considered "problem drinker" or "alcoholic." Technically anything over one drink for women and two for men is considered problematic by the AMA. I'm just glad to see articles confirming what I see all the time. Massive amounts of people drinking unhealthy amounts of poison and thinking it's ok.

Good article! I'm now known as "binge drinker" I guess

I agree... Just wish they would have put a little more thought into it.

My doc told me one a day also. I pretty much told him none a day or at least 6 a day... So, we agreed that none was probably the best approach.:tapping

Oh yeah, no way I can have just two. I tried those guidelines for years and it's either zero or many.

I thought this was interesting:

"The CDC found only one in four binge drinkers had ever discussed alcohol use with their doctor, despite drinking’s ties to health risks.

Overall, only one in six Americans said their doctor asked them about their alcohol intake."

I always thought the statistics for the number of Alcoholics in the U.S. were extremely low. I know a lot of people who binge. Me included. Never going out for just one. What is the point?

I am curious on how doctors would screen for alcohol abuse. If it is a questionnaire, I believe most people will not be truthful. Or, would it be through a blood screening test? I think it is standard that during annual health check-ups, your liver enzymes are tested anyway... not sure though...

Until my last visit I always lied...

I had my blood work done last time (drank the night before) and I still good liver function. Maybe I am just lucky...

Yes. The National Institutes of Health/NIH.

Apparently I was a 'round-the-clock binge drinker.

Their definitions are primarily for research purposes.