Table 1 Glossary of Terms Associated with Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol abuse

Is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one’s health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work [62].

Alcohol dependency

Dependency on alcohol, also known as alcohol addiction and alcoholism, is a chronic disease. The signs and symptoms for alcohol dependence include a strong craving for alcohol, continued use despite repeated physical, psychological, or interpersonal problems and the inability to limit drinking [62].

Binge drinking

A pattern of alcohol consumption that brings the blood alcohol concentration level to 0.08% or more. This pattern of drinking usually corresponds to 5 or more drinks on a single occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on a single occasion for women, generally within about 2 h [26].

Excessive alcohol use

Excessive drinking, or excessive alcohol use includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, any alcohol use by people under the minimum legal drinking age, and any alcohol use by pregnant women [63].

Heavy drinking

For men heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 15 drinks or more per week. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 8 drinks or more per week [63].

Heavy episodic drinking

Defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as 60 or more grams of pure alcohol on at least one single occasion at least monthly [15].

Risky drinking

Women having more than 3 drinks or men having more than 4 drinks on any single occasion once per month or more often [64].

Risky single occasion drinking (RSOD)

Having X number of standard drinks or more (X+) on one occasion. This definition may vary across countries by number of drinks as well as grams of alcohol per drink [65]. This article uses 5 or more drinks regardless of sex to define RSOD, based on the CCHS classification, which is equivalent to consuming 70 g or more of pure alcohol on one single occasion.