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PITTSBURGH, PA – A recent study has identified a notable reversal in binge drinking trends among young adults in the United States, with women aged 18-25 now reporting higher rates of past-month binge drinking than their male peers. This shift occurred between the periods of 2017-2019 and 2021-2023, according to research published online on April 16, 2025, in the journal JAMA.
Researchers led by Dr. Bryant Shuey from the University of Pittsburgh analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), encompassing 267,843 adults. The study aimed to examine sex-based differences in past-month binge drinking and overall heavy drinking patterns.
The findings revealed that while women overall continued to report lower rates of past-month binge drinking than men in the 2021-2023 period (21.8 vs 25.7 per 100 persons), a significant change was observed specifically within the 18-25 age bracket. In this group, the rate of past-month binge drinking for women surpassed that of men, reaching 31.6 per 100 persons compared to 29.9 per 100 persons for men.
This marks a reversal from the 2017-2019 period, where young women aged 18-25 had slightly lower rates of past-month binge drinking than young men (36.4 vs 37.7 per 100 persons).
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) definition was used, classifying binge drinking as consuming four or more alcoholic drinks for women, or five or more for men, on a single occasion.
Despite the increase in binge drinking among young women, the study consistently found that men engaged in heavy drinking – defined as binge drinking on five or more days in the past month – at significantly higher rates than women across all age groups in both study periods.
The authors stressed the importance of these findings for clinical practice. “Given rising alcohol-related liver disease and mortality among females relative to males, clinicians should ensure that young adult female populations are being appropriately screened for binge and heavy drinking to mitigate downstream alcohol-related health impacts,” they wrote.
The study relied on self-reported data and acknowledged limitations, including potential impacts from the shift to web-based surveys starting in 2020, which could affect direct comparisons between the two time periods. The research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Some authors reported receiving external grants or fees.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information from a single study published in JAMA. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Findings from one study may not represent the full picture, and research is constantly evolving. Consult with a healthcare professional for concerns about alcohol consumption or related health issues.
