About half of all binge drinking takes place in public and in large groups, increasing the risk of injury, according to researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Beer is the drink of choice in two-thirds of binge-drinking episodes, said CDC epidemiologist Timothy Naimi, M.D., and alcohol typically is easily available at such events, even to underage drinkers.

"Overall, 12 percent of binge drinkers reported driving during or soon after binge drinking, meaning they were risking injury or death not only for themselves but also their passengers, other drivers and pedestrians," said Naimi.

Naimi reported the results of his research at a meeting of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists.