Despite the intended practicality of the CAS and other large scale survey definitions, characterizing binge drinking using only a “single occasion” within a specified time-frame may conflate the estimates of binge drinkers as defined by a pattern of behavior (Naimi et al., 2003; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2007; Wechsler et al., 1994), as both drinking quantity and frequency have been shown to be important indictors of risky drinking in college students (Presley & Pimentel, 2006). Additional issues include how a single “drink” is defined, consumption amount, and alcohol tolerance contribute to individual inebriation levels (Jaccard & Turrisi, 1987).
