Is Binge Drinking the Same as Alcoholism?

2. A Bigger Problem

Binge drinking on its own is not enough to warrant a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder, and in fact most people who binge drink are not dependent on alcohol. But people who binge drink regularly are far more likely to be diagnosed with one than those who don't. No single amount of drinking triggers a diagnosis by itself. These disorders develop based on how alcohol affects a person's life, including how well they can control their drinking and whether they can still function day to day.