Female: Binge drinking: Total, 14.8%; 12-17 years, 10.1%; 18-25 years, 31.8%; 26 years and older, 12.6%. Heavy drinking: Total, 3.4%; 12-17 years, 2.3%; 18-25 years, 9.0%; 26 years and older, 2.6%. Male: Binge drinking: Total, 30.9%; 12-17 years, 11.1%; 18-25 years, 51.3%; 26 years and older, 30.1%. Heavy drinking: Total, 10.4%; 12-17 years, 2.9%; 18-25 years, 21.2%; 26 years and older, 9.5%.

Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results for the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: detailed tables. Office of Applied Studies, Rockville, MD, September 2004.

*“Binge” alcohol use was defined as drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion on at lest 1 day in the past 30 days. “Occasion” means at the same time or within a few hours of each other. “Heavy” alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion on each of 5 or more days in the past 30 days; all “Heavy” alcohol users are also “Binge” alcohol users.