Nearly 32 million Americans engage in extreme binge-drinking: study

It's difficult to see having 8-10 drinks as 'extreme binge drinking'. I'd class that as moderate drinking.

If I drink 8-10 beers, I'd go home marginally tipsy, would have a good sleep and wake up without much of a hangover.

This sounds like typical puritan-American nonsense. You tie one on "once in the past year" and you're a binge drinker. Sure it's your 30th BD bash or NY's Eve but be sure to only have a single sip of champagne and go to sleep by 9pm. As long as you're not driving or doing this every night, who cares. I'm a liberal but this is not an area requiring government studies or nanny state shaming. And I say this as someone who hasn't been drunk in 18 years. My futsukayois were turning into mikkayois. Not that I don't love a good pint of IPA but I stop at 3 or 4.

Binge drinking, opioids, legal marijuana, etc etc etc. What is it about American life that makes it so miserable you are constantly having to drown out reality?

Weird, I don't consider myself to be a drinker, as I only drink a couple of times a year, and yet I'd fit into this list as I've drank 10 drinks in a sitting at least twice in the past year.

Binge drinking, opioids, legal marijuana, etc etc etc. What is it about American life that makes it so miserable you are constantly having to drown out reality?

The same could be asked of Japanese life - I never saw people passed out in their own puke on the street in the US, but I see it regularly here. I've seen people who have passed out and peed themselves on the train, and/or are even sleeping on the floor of the train.

"The same could be asked of Japanese life - I never saw people passed out in their own puke on the street in the US, but I see it regularly here. I've seen people who have passed out and peed themselves on the train, and/or are even sleeping on the floor of the train."

Did you go to university in the US? I think I pulled off your trifecta (puking-peeing-and sleeping in public) by myself during my 4 years of "higher education." It would take hours to recount all the now-embarrassing war stories. This will be a big consideration when the college discussion takes place in my household. Well, yes, American universities are the best in the world but at Shindai you won't have to navigate a 100 hammered frat boys to reach your apt.

Did you go to university in the US? I think I pulled off your trifecta (puking-peeing-and sleeping in public) by myself during my 4 years of "higher education."

No, in Canada. I'm sure it happens in the states, but not with the regularity I see it in Japan.

And most of them located on Wall Street or K street

Silly article.  although it is true that in the US people seem to be polarized along these lines also.  either don't/almost never drink or go the whole hog (drugs too).

Eight to ten drinks is nothing. When I go out that's barely an average night. No hangovers either!!

Reading these kind of things is like looking up diseases on the internet -- suddenly you are or have everything you check. There is no real objective way to measure what is "binge drinking" because it differs from person to person, and the margin for error is too large to call it an accurate indicator. Now, I binge drank, without a doubt. I used to do the century club no problem in residence, and I was 5'8" and 125 lbs going up against football players. I barely batted an eye. I also double fisted drinks on the dance floor after drinking two pitchers by myself at the table. This very often led to me waking up in some strange places, and some of them not so good, and it was stupid. But I don't think 8-10 drinks is binge drinking unless that single sitting is 30 minutes and people are chugging.

When I came to Japan I didn't change much -- drank a lot of izakays or dance bars and on the way home bought two six-packs of 500 ml cans of Asahi, and in most cases would drink them all. If I didn't, I would drink the rest when I woke up. Mind you, I only did this on weekends.

I was definitely in the extreme, and having quit drinking altogether (I CAN drink, my liver function and health results from checks are all completely normal, but I have chosen not too, even if my partner does and those around me to), and since doing so I can easily see who is binging and who is not if I attend parties and/or go to bars. The drinking culture in the US and other nations -- Japan included with all the enkais, after parties, all-you-can-drink establishments, etc. -- needs to change, with emphasis not on pressure to do it because it's fun, but pressure not to do it so much because it's harmful.

Not drinking at first made enkais suck, but I still go to them. What we also need, desperately in Japan, are alterantives that encourage people to cut back or quit. They have non-alcohol beer that is good now, but they charge more than for regular beer, and quite a lot more than happoshu. So, it's almost a punishment to buy it. All-you-can-drink places should be optionable for people not drinking and/or being designated drivers. Having "all-you-can-drink" oolong tea is silly. Give some better options or let those people opt out instead of charging the whole group for one service.

Disseminate information better about the harmful effects of drinking too much, including on alcoholism, and make people aware of where they can get help from peer pressure or said alcoholism, as well as perhaps limiting access to alcohol (introduce sales time windows).

Japan is great alcohol wise and I hope that never changes. 24/7 availability and no problems with having a few cans in the local park if you want. Many izakaya have cheap beer. My only issue really is that I have a marriage problem getting in the way of my drinking!

The culture of eating and drinking in Japan is quite appealing. Of course people are going to imbibe too much on occasion - it's when it becomes a habit and puts the drinker and other people in danger; that's when the problem starts.