Is it all right to binge drink occasionally?

By Caroline Hopkins Legaspi

The New York Times

Some people don’t drink often, but they like to partake a little more than usual around the holidays. The question arises: Is it OK to have more than a drink or two every once in a while?

While the term “binge drinking” might conjure thoughts of college parties and tequila shots, three glasses of wine and a hot toddy at Thanksgiving also counts. Federal health officials define binge drinking as four or more drinks on one occasion for women, and five or more for men.

Most people know that binge drinking, especially when it’s frequent, is dangerous for health. But is it still risky if you drink rarely, or not at all, for most of the year? We asked a few experts who study alcohol for their take.

Are there potential long-term risks?

When you drink alcohol, your body turns it into a toxic substance called acetaldehyde, which can damage DNA throughout your body — including in your mouth, throat, liver, colon and breasts. Each time your body repairs its DNA, cancerous mutations may arise, raising the risk for at least seven types of cancer.

Many of these harms develop with repeated drinking over years, said Denis M. McCarthy, a professor of psychology at the University of Missouri who studies how alcohol influences behavior.

It’s unlikely that one night of binge drinking would cause a condition like cancer, said Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor of public health and community me...