Flushing Hospital Medical Center Shares Summer Drinking: How Much Is Too Much?

Press release from the Flushing Hospital Medical Center:

June 1, 2021

According to research published in the Journals of Studies on Alcohol, ” Annual seasonality in alcohol use excluding drinking behavior in December, is highest in the summer.”

Higher consumption of alcoholic beverages in the summer may be linked to increased socialization during this time of year. Alcoholic beverages are often served during summer gatherings such as barbeques, weddings, block parties, or beach parties.

Moderate drinking or having a drink on occasion is not a cause for concern for most adults. However, if alcohol consumption becomes too frequent, you may want to ask “How many drinks are too many?” and ” Am I a heavy drinker?”

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines heavy drinking as follows:

• For men, consuming more than 4 drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks per week
• For women, consuming more than 3 drinks on any day or more than 7 drinks per week

The NIAAA states, “Alcohol misuse, which includes binge drinking and heavy alcohol use, increases your risk of harmful consequences.” The risk for developing health conditions such as Alcohol Use Disorder (When a patient’s drinking interferes with their daily life) increases with frequent heavy drinking.

If you think you have a problem with alcohol addiction, please contact Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Addiction Treatment Division at (718) 670-5693 or (718) 670-5540.

This press release was produced by the Flushing Hospital Medical Center. The views expressed are the author's own.