How’s this for a scary trend? Apparently some college-aged women follow what’s being called a “drunkorexic” diet that involves binge drinking and then offsetting those calories by not eating. Stats show that about 30% of 18-24 year old women now participate in some form of drunkorexia. So why are so many women doing it? Well, the desire to be skinny can compete with a person’s desire to participate in the social scene. Dr. Douglas Bunnell, director of outpatient clinical services for the Renfrew Center, said to The New York Times, “Binge drinking is almost cool and hip, and losing weight and being thin is a cultural imperative for young women in America. Mixing both is not surprising, and it has reached a tipping point in terms of public awareness.” Can you say dangerous? The calories in alcohol lack any nutritional value and are hardly a supplement for, you know, food just aren’t the same. And how in the hell do these people pass up a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich when they wake up with a nasty hangover? [NationalEatingDisorders.org]

After prohibiting smoking in bars in January, the French government is now cracking down on other vices by banning open bars and happy hours. The measures come after rising binge drinking trends among its country’s youth. This may come as a surprise to Americans accustomed to college kid-culture which traditionally stands in contrast to Europe’s seemingly refined youth who have profited from liberal attitudes on drinking. But, it appears weaning youngsters on beer and wine is no longer working as alcohol-related visits for minors rose 50 percent in the past five years. The law will also raise the drinking age from 16 to 18. While wine and cigarettes might be health threats, they’re also staples of French culture. If the government continues this trend, what’s next? Better start clinging to those croissants for dear life. [Reuters]

On the cover of today’s free paper AM New York is a hard-hitting headline about how the New York City Department of Health found that…wait for it… binge drinking leads to sex. Puh-lease, after ZERO drinks I’ll do the nasty! Plus, if that was all it took to get laid, I’d get hammered in morning, I’d get hammered in the evening, I’d get hammered all over this land!  According to the Health Department’s report, if you have more than five drinks in one sitting, at least once a month, you’re a big slutty drunky-drunk. [Oops. Oops again. Oops.—Editor] And by slutty, the study means you have had two to four partners a year. Whore!