"Young binge drinkers enjoy drinking alcohol and being drunk," the researchers said. "Few feel that their drinking habits are something that they should change, even when they have been involved in various forms of risk or disorder as a consequence. Indeed, episodes of risk or disorder are often viewed as part of the excitement of getting drunk with friends."

According to the study, 39 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds said they got "very drunk" on a "big night out" at least once a month, with men more likely to binge than women. Of the binge drinkers, four out of 10 said they committed a criminal offense, making them nearly three times more likely to misbehave than those who got drunk less than once a month.

"The difference was particularly marked for fights, with binge drinkers five times more likely to admit to an incident," said the researchers.

Among the offenses committed by binge drinkers are fights, robberies, assaults, and committing pranks such as climbing buildings or stopping traffic.

"Frequency of drunkenness was strongly associated with violent crime and fighting, even after other factors were taken into account," the researchers said. "Those who got drunk at least once a week were more than five times as likely to be involved in a violent crime or a fight."

In response to the study's findings, Britain's Home Office Minister Bob Ainsworth said, "The report makes an important contribution to the evidence based on alcohol-related crime and disorder, and will help us to develop current and future initiatives to tackle the problem."

The government is enabling local governments to ban anti-social public drinking, enhancing police efforts to close rowdy or noisy bars and clubs for up to 24 hours, strengthening the offense of selling alcohol to those under age 18, and issuing tickets for being drunk and disorderly.

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