What is binge drinking?

Answer: 

Binge drinking is defined by the NIAAA as any drinking that raises one’s BAC over .08.  In practice, this usually means drinking four or more drinks (for women) or five or more drinks (for men) in one sitting – about two hours.

Binge drinking is used in discussions of alcohol because it demarcates a threshold of drinking above which a lot of negative short- and long-term effects kick in.   These harms include blacking out, injuries, alcohol poisoning (can be fatal), alcoholism, liver disease, and damage to other organs.