Under these guidelines a male who consumes four pots of beer in a Friday after-work session with colleagues that lasts say 2.5 hours, would still be able to drive his car home because he would be under the legal limit of 0.05, but now he’s a binge drinker.

The problem with this classification is that in attempting to highlight the dangers of alcohol, those behind this latest initiative have succeeded only in achieving ridicule for their cause from those sections of the community who most need a wake-up call.

There is nothing wrong with health authorities and anti-alcohol crusaders pushing their messages about responsible drinking, the dangers of too much drinking and the antisocial behaviour that can result from an excess of drinking.

But looking to adopt such extreme tags as ‘‘binge drinkers’’ will only succeed in undermining their cause.

There is no doubt this nation has a drinking problem and that alcohol is embedded in our culture - and not always for the right reasons or outcomes.

Classifying anyone and everyone who has a few drinks as a binge drinker - without properly considering the circumstances in which the alcohol was consumed, such as the length of time involved - succeeds only in making a mockery of what is otherwise a very serious topic.

What do you think?

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