Uncorking the Bottle: A Study on Binge Drinking Women Aged 25–35

Abstract

Women aged of 25–35 are largely unmentioned in news articles and scholarly studies on binge drinking. Although increasing numbers of female binge drinkers are being identified in studies, research on the topic of binge drinking tends to include adolescents and males as research subjects. This study provides an overview on current models of addiction, such as the disease/medical model and the moral model of addiction, and the way in which these models have influenced definitions and understandings of binge drinking. A definition of binge drinking that best characterizes current binge drinking trends of recurrent-episode binge-drinking women (RBDW) is provided. Based on the combined information provided by current studies and anecdotal evidence from the lived experience of RBDW, features of binge drinking and motivations for engaging in this behaviour are examined. A review of motivational interviewing and harm reduction as two viable therapeutic approaches is outlined.