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Rising female binge drinking rates — and stagnant high rates for men — have experts warning that the ill effects of hard partying in Alberta still aren’t being taken seriously.

“Binge drinking is a larger problem than alcohol dependence,” said Cameron Wild, a professor with the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta.

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Wild said about 8.5 per cent of Albertans, an “extremely large number,” meet the criteria for having alcohol problems, including binge drinking.

“That means that there are in excess of a quarter million adults in the province who would meet criteria for having alcohol problems, and this puts them at risk,” said Wild.

According to data from Alberta Health, in 2014 just under 15 per cent of men and about nine per cent of women reported consuming five drinks or more during one event at least twice a month.

While the percentage of male binge drinkers has remained largely unchanged over the last decade, the number of women binging has been increasing, from around 5.25 per cent in 2001 to 8.79 per centin 2014.