Most of us like having a drink at the weekend, but very few of us would describe ourselves as binge drinkers.
But according to one medical expert, the line between a good time and a concerning relationship with alcohol is more blurred than one might initially think.
In revealing how many drinks he considered to be binge drinking, he had many concerned about their own alcohol consumption.
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TikTok user Med Explained 2 You took to the video sharing platform to share some insight into the issue.
"Do you drink alcohol but only on the weekends? You probably don't consider yourself a heavy drinker because it's only two days of the week," the doctor said.
"But we in the medical business would call you a weekend warrior."
That title might sound cool initially but it does have some worrying implications.
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He said: "Turns out that being a weekend warrior is just as bad, if not worse, than being a chronic daily alcohol drinker.
"It destroys your liver and wreaks havoc on your body."
After asking for his viewers to comment if they were a 'weekend warrior' and how many drinks they'd have a night, he got plenty of responses.
One bragged: "Weekend warrior! Approx 18 standard drinks on a Friday night. Around 3 bottles of wine. Aussie culture."
Another remarked: "I used to drink just once a week and I could easily put down 15 or more shots of tequila in four hours. I quit tequila, moved onto beer."
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Crikey.
As impressive - erm, if that's the right word - as these figures are, how many drinks are needed to constitute binge drinking?
One commenter posed this question to the TikToker and his answer might surprise you.
"6 plus drinks in one sitting," he claimed.
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Going off the answers provided elsewhere in the comments section, there are quite a few binge drinkers who saw the video.
However, some commenters admitted that they had given up their boozy ways.
One wrote: "I quit alcohol two years ago. Not a great feeling after a hangover," whilst another commented: "Retired weekend warrior. Now will drink one/two every other weekend."
Alcohol over consumption is linked to several health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and liver disease.
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It also increases the risks of several forms of cancer, such as throat, oesophagus, liver, colon and rectum.
To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level, the NHS advises that both men and woman do not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week.
A unit of alcohol is the equivalent of half a pint of normal strength of beer or cider.
Alternatively, it could be measured as a single shot of spirits.
You can find an alcohol or drug service in your local area or use the following information to get support:
With You provides a range of support for alcohol, drugs and mental health via a local service or online. These are free and confidential services and include the following:
- Drinkline provides advice for anyone who is worried about their own or someone else’s drinking – phone 0800 731 4314, available Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm
- Alcohol Helpline can provide advice and support if you’re over 50 and are worried about your own or someone else’s drinking – book an appointment online or phone 0808 801 0750, Monday to Friday, 12pm to 8pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm
- Know The Score provides support if you’ve taken drugs, are thinking of taking them, or are just curious and want to know more – use their webchat or phone 0800 587 5879, Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm
Topics: Food And Drink, Health, TikTok
Ben Thompson