Posted on July 28, 2010

Alcohol is the most commonly used recreational drug in Western societies, with about 90 percent of people having consumed alcohol at some stage in their lives and about 30 percent of people developing a form of alcohol-use disorder. According to the United Kingdom Government, an adult can consume 7.20/4.80 fluid ounces of alcohol before it becomes threatening to one’s health. 

However, a new study suggests that there is no “safe” level of drinking for teenagers, as researchers at Northumbria University have discovered that teen binge drinking affects prospective memory, or remembering to perform an intended action, such as remembering to meet a friend at a certain time, remembering a doctor’s appointment, or remembering to take medicine. This type of memory is essential to everyday life, as failures in prospective memory can negatively affect one’s professional life, relationships, and health.

Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks in one drinking session at least twice a week. Studies have found that this type of excessive drinking is extremely popular among those between the ages of 16 and 24. Research has shown that 44 percent of college students binge drink every two weeks, and 19 percent binge drink more than three times per week. With the prevalence of binge drinking among young people, it’s important to understand the impact of alcohol consumption on the still-developing brain.

Researchers led by Dr. Tom Heffernan tested the ability of 50 university students to remember a series of tasks. They were shown a 10-minute video clip of a shopping district and were asked to remember to follow a series of instructions when they saw specific locations. Of the 50 participants, 21 were considered binge drinkers. Teens who used other drugs like marijuana, tobacco, and ecstasy were excluded from the study, as were those who had consumed alcohol within the last 48 hours.

The study found that the non-binging participants remembered far more of the instructions than the binge drinkers, suggesting that excessive drinking may interfere with the development of the teenage brain. The study also found that binge drinkers didn’t perceive themselves to have poor memory recall, suggesting that teen drinkers are unaware of the damage that may be occurring.

Dr. Heffernan noted that their study underscores that there are no “safe” levels of drinking for teenagers, as the teenage brain is still developing. 

Sources: Northumbria University, No Safe Level: First Study to Show Teenage Binge Drinkers Harm Abilities in Later Life, July 29, 2010

Thomas M. Heffernan, The Impact of Excessive Alcohol Use on Prospective Memory: A Brief Review, September 28, 2007