light drinking3,35,48 and to be consistent with prior studies.21,49–51 These groups were heavy drinkers (HD; n=104 [44 women]) and light drinkers (LD; n=86 [41 women]). Criteria for the HD group were (1) consuming at least 10 but no more than 40 standard alcoholic drinks per week and (2) engaging in regular binge drinking, defined as consuming 5 or more drinks on an occasion (≥4 for women) 1 to 5 times on average per week as their predominant adult pattern. Criteria for the LD group were (1) consuming at least 1 but no more than 5 standard alcoholic drinks per week and (2) engaging in infrequent binge drinking—ie, 5 or fewer times per year, but allowing for 1 past interval of a maximum of 6 months’ duration of up to twice-weekly binge drinking (ie, typically during college-aged years). All attempts were made to match the groups on age as well as sex and race.
