Heavy drinking is defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption that exceeds moderate drinking limits and increases the risk of health and social problems. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heavy drinking is consuming eight or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more drinks per week for men. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines heavy drinking, for research purposes, as binge drinking on five or more days within the past 30 days.
Sources: SAMHSA_NCBI