Alcohol becomes a problem when the costs of it outweigh any actual or perceived benefits. Drinking problems can very rapidly escalate into alcoholism, which is also called alcohol dependency syndrome. This often, but not always, begins with a person binge drinking - that is, drinking enormous amounts of alcohol purely for the purpose of "getting drunk." This is deeply unhealthy on both a physical and emotional level, and should always be avoided. Repeated binge drinking becomes alcohol abuse, which can then very rapidly develop to alcoholism when the drinker develops an obsession and craving for alcohol regardless of the situation or time of day.