Across the Brown campus, students and administration alike view the current definition as both strict and dangerous. Strict because a fixed number applies to everyone, and dangerous because this definition can and does lead to several misconceptions. Donovan expressed disapproval with the term binge drinking. He added that there are other forms of dangerous drinking that this definition neglects. A focus on the risky behavior that often goes along with drinking in excess would be more appropriate, he explained.
Few students agree with the definition of binge drinking.
Bina Venkataraman '02 argued that binge drinking should look at factors like a person's size and how much he or she can handle instead of just listing off numbers. Donovan agreed with this statement. The body can metabolize one drink per hour for grown males, so five drinks over five hours - no problem. He said that the definition is imprecise because it doesn't account for body type or personal tendencies. Senior Tiffany Fonseca also questioned the necessity for numbers and suggested that instead, the term should rely on common sense.