World News and Trends: The dangers of binge drinking

Alcohol has enjoyed a positive press in recent years, which has misled people into thinking that the occasional binge will not harm their health. Nothing could be further from the truth. Consider a Finnish study published in the British Medical Journal. "It discovered that men who binge on beer (defined as six or more bottles in a session) have a much higher risk of early death regardless of their total average consumption. Other risks are also increased."

Generally speaking, most people can benefit from a moderate amount of wine as a complement to ameal. We read in several passages in the Bible that under the right conditions alcohol can be beneficial to our health and general mental well-being. For instance, the apostle Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine to aid his digestion and ameliorate his frequent illnesses.

Yet Scripture also warns against drunkenness. That same apostle also said not to overindulge in wine, and several proverbs warn against the debilitating effects of overdrinking and alcoholism. Binge drinking fits the latter category. (Sources: The Independent [London], 1 Timothy 5:23; Ephesians 5:18.)