A new study comparing drinking cultures in Ireland and France has found that binge drinking may increase one's risk for heart diseases, such as heart attack, coronary death and persistent acute chest pain.

The study compared the drinking habits of 2,405 men from Belfast and 7,373 men from France over a period of ten years. The men were all free of heart disease at the study's outset. `Regular drinkers' consumed less than 1.8 ounces on each occasion, and drank at least once a week. `Binge drinkers' consumed "excessive" amounts over short periods, at least once a week.

Researchers found differences between French and Irish drinking patterns. While binge drinking was more common in Belfast (9.4% compared to 0.5% in France), French participants tended to drink more regularly. Belfast men consumed two or three times more alcohol than French men during weekends. The former also preferred beer and spirits, while the latter tended to opt for wine.

The findings showed that binge drinkers faced twice the risk of heart attack or dying from heart disease compared to regular drinkers. Drinking more was also associated with higher smoking levels, higher overall cholesterol and triglyceride levels and elevated blood pressure.

"It's important to avoid binge drinking, and it's better to have a small amount of alcohol regularly than large amounts in one go", said Amy Thompson, Senior Cardiac Nurse with the British Heart Foundation. She added that the recommended limits are 2-3 units a day for women and 3-4 for men.