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AUDIT Alcohol Screening Questionnaire

The WHO's 10-question Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) - the most comprehensive brief screening tool for hazardous drinking, harmful use, and alcohol dependence.

Last Updated: February 2026

About the AUDIT Assessment

The AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1982 as a method to screen for excessive drinking and help identify people who would benefit from reducing or ceasing alcohol consumption.

Unlike the CAGE questionnaire which focuses on lifetime patterns and dependence, AUDIT assesses current drinking behaviors and captures the full spectrum of alcohol-related problems including:

  • Hazardous alcohol use (risky drinking patterns)
  • Dependence symptoms (loss of control)
  • Harmful alcohol use (consequences of drinking)

📋 What This Screening Measures

The 10 AUDIT questions are grouped into three domains:

  • Questions 1-3: Hazardous alcohol use (consumption patterns)
  • Questions 4-6: Dependence symptoms
  • Questions 7-10: Harmful alcohol use (consequences)

This comprehensive approach makes AUDIT effective at identifying the full range of alcohol problems, from risky drinking to dependence.

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

This is a screening tool, NOT a diagnostic instrument. A high AUDIT score indicates you should discuss your alcohol use with a healthcare professional. Only a qualified clinician can diagnose alcohol use disorder (AUD).

AUDIT Alcohol Screening Questions

Answer each question based on your drinking over the past 12 months. If your drinking has changed recently, consider your typical pattern over the year.

Alcohol Consumption

1 How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

2 How many standard drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when drinking?

One standard drink = 12oz beer, 5oz wine, or 1.5oz spirits

3 How often do you have 6 or more drinks on one occasion?

Dependence Symptoms

4 How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?

5 How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected of you because of drinking?

6 How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?

Harmful Alcohol Use

7 How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?

8 How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because of your drinking?

9 Have you or someone else been injured because of your drinking?

10 Has a relative, friend, doctor, or other health care worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?

Understanding AUDIT Scores

The AUDIT total score ranges from 0 to 40. Higher scores indicate more hazardous or harmful alcohol use. The WHO provides these risk level categories:

0-7
Zone I
Low Risk
Drinking at lower risk levels or abstinent. No intervention needed.
Alcohol education
8-15
Zone II
Hazardous Use
Drinking at levels that increase risk of harm. Pattern exceeds low-risk guidelines.
Brief advice / Simple intervention
16-19
Zone III
Harmful Use
Alcohol is probably causing harm. May have dependence features.
Brief counseling + Continued monitoring
20-40
Zone IV
Possible Dependence
High likelihood of alcohol dependence. Requires diagnostic evaluation.
Referral to specialist for evaluation + treatment

📊 AUDIT Domain Scores

In addition to total score, your responses can be analyzed by domain:

  • Questions 1-3 (Consumption): Score ≥6 suggests hazardous consumption
  • Questions 4-6 (Dependence): Any positive score (≥4) warrants attention
  • Questions 7-10 (Harm): Any positive score indicates alcohol-related harm has occurred

What is a Standard Drink?

🍺 12 oz Regular Beer ~5% alcohol
🍷 5 oz Wine ~12% alcohol
🥃 1.5 oz Distilled Spirits ~40% alcohol

Each of these contains approximately 14 grams (0.6 oz) of pure alcohol, which is defined as one standard drink in the US.

Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines (NIAAA)
For Women
  • No more than 3 drinks on any single day
  • No more than 7 drinks per week
For Men
  • No more than 4 drinks on any single day
  • No more than 14 drinks per week
Definitions of Drinking Patterns
  • Moderate Drinking: Up to 1 drink/day for women, up to 2/day for men
  • Binge Drinking: 4+ drinks within 2 hours for women, 5+ for men
  • Heavy Drinking: Binge drinking on 5+ days in the past month, OR exceeding weekly limits
Who Should NOT Drink At All
  • Pregnant women or women trying to become pregnant
  • People under the legal drinking age
  • People taking certain medications
  • People with certain medical conditions
  • People in recovery from alcohol use disorder
  • Anyone planning to drive or operate machinery

Health Risks of Excessive Alcohol Use

Short-Term Risks
  • Injuries (car crashes, falls, drowning)
  • Violence (homicide, suicide, sexual assault)
  • Alcohol poisoning
  • Risky sexual behaviors
  • Miscarriage, stillbirth, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (if pregnant)
Long-Term Health Risks
  • High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke
  • Liver disease
  • Digestive problems
  • Cancer (breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon)
  • Weakened immune system
  • Learning and memory problems, dementia
  • Mental health problems (depression, anxiety)
  • Alcohol use disorder (addiction)
Alcohol-Related Statistics (CDC)
~140K Annual US deaths from excessive alcohol use
29 Years of potential life lost per death
$249B Annual economic cost (2010)

Tips for Cutting Down

If your AUDIT score suggests hazardous drinking, reducing your alcohol consumption can significantly benefit your health. Here are evidence-based strategies:

🎯 Set Goals
  • Decide how many days per week you'll drink
  • Set a maximum number of drinks per occasion
  • Choose specific alcohol-free days
  • Write down your goals and track progress
📊 Track Your Drinking
  • Use a journal or app to log each drink
  • Note when, where, and why you drink
  • Calculate your weekly units
  • Identify patterns and triggers
🚰 Practical Strategies
  • Alternate alcoholic drinks with water
  • Use smaller glasses
  • Don't keep alcohol at home
  • Avoid "rounds" when socializing
  • Learn to say no
🌟 Find Alternatives
  • Explore non-alcoholic beverages
  • Find new stress-relief activities
  • Exercise instead of drinking
  • Develop alcohol-free social activities
⚠️ Important: When NOT to Cut Down on Your Own

If you've been drinking heavily for an extended period, do not stop suddenly without medical supervision. Alcohol withdrawal can cause serious symptoms including:

  • Tremors, sweating, rapid heartbeat
  • Anxiety, irritability, insomnia
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Seizures (can be life-threatening)
  • Delirium tremens (confusion, hallucinations)

If you've been drinking heavily daily, consult a doctor before stopping.

Treatment Options

Treatment for alcohol problems depends on severity and individual circumstances. Many effective options exist.

🗣️ Brief Interventions

For hazardous drinking (AUDIT 8-15), brief intervention from a healthcare provider—even a single session—can significantly reduce drinking:

  • Feedback about drinking level and risks
  • Goal-setting for reduction
  • Practical strategies for cutting down
  • Follow-up assessment
💊 Medications

FDA-approved medications can help reduce cravings and support recovery:

  • Naltrexone: Reduces alcohol cravings and the pleasurable effects of drinking
  • Acamprosate: Helps maintain abstinence by reducing negative feelings when not drinking
  • Disulfiram: Causes unpleasant effects if alcohol is consumed, deterring drinking
🧠 Behavioral Treatments
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifies triggers and develops coping skills
  • Motivational Enhancement Therapy: Builds motivation to change
  • 12-Step Facilitation: Preparation for AA participation
  • Family/Marital Therapy: Involves loved ones in recovery
🤝 Support Groups
Finding Help

About the AUDIT Questionnaire

Development

The AUDIT was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1982 as part of a multinational study. It was designed to:

  • Be brief and flexible for use in primary care
  • Focus on recent drinking (vs. lifetime patterns like CAGE)
  • Identify the full spectrum of alcohol problems, not just dependence
  • Be cross-culturally valid
Validation

AUDIT has been extensively validated:

  • Tested in 6 countries initially, now validated worldwide
  • Sensitivity: 92% for hazardous drinking (at cutoff of 8)
  • Specificity: 94% for hazardous drinking
  • Validated across cultures, ages, and genders
  • Translated into multiple languages
AUDIT vs. CAGE
Feature AUDIT CAGE
Questions 10 4
Time Period Past year Lifetime
Focus Full spectrum (hazardous to dependent) Dependence
Best For Primary care screening, research Quick screening, dependence
Scoring 0-40 (graduated risk levels) 0-4 (yes/no)
Shorter Versions
  • AUDIT-C: First 3 questions only (consumption). Cutoff: 4+ for men, 3+ for women.
  • Fast Alcohol Screening Test (FAST): 4 questions derived from AUDIT

Primary Source: Babor TF, et al. AUDIT: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: Guidelines for Use in Primary Care. WHO, 2001.

Frequently Asked Questions

AUDIT and CAGE serve different purposes:

  • AUDIT (10 questions) assesses current drinking (past year) and identifies the full spectrum from hazardous drinking to dependence. Better for detecting risky drinking before it becomes severe.
  • CAGE (4 questions) asks about lifetime patterns and is particularly sensitive for alcohol dependence, but less sensitive for hazardous drinking.

AUDIT is generally preferred for comprehensive screening; CAGE is useful for quick screening when dependence is the main concern.

Not necessarily. A score of 8+ indicates hazardous drinking—drinking at levels that increase risk of harm. This doesn't automatically mean alcohol dependence ("alcoholism"). However, it does mean your drinking patterns warrant attention and potentially change. We recommend discussing your results with a healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

For self-monitoring, consider taking AUDIT every 6-12 months, or whenever your drinking patterns change significantly. If you're actively trying to reduce your drinking, you might reassess more frequently (monthly) to track progress. A decrease of 4+ points typically indicates meaningful improvement.

No. All calculations happen entirely in your web browser. We do not collect, store, transmit, or share any of your responses or results. Your health information remains completely private on your device.

Related Assessments

📋 CAGE Questionnaire Quick 4-question alcohol screening focused on dependence symptoms. 😔 PHQ-9 Depression Test Screen for depression, which commonly co-occurs with alcohol problems. 😰 GAD-7 Anxiety Test Assess anxiety levels. Many people use alcohol to self-medicate anxiety.

📚 Sources & References

Primary AUDIT Source:

  1. Babor TF, Higgins-Biddle JC, Saunders JB, Monteiro MG. AUDIT: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: Guidelines for Use in Primary Care. 2nd ed. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2001. WHO
  2. Saunders JB, Aasland OG, Babor TF, et al. Development of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Addiction. 1993;88:791-804. PubMed

Guidelines and Statistics:

  1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Rethinking Drinking. NIAAA
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol and Public Health. CDC
  3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National Survey on Drug Use and Health. SAMHSA

Last Updated: February 2026

⚕️ Medical Disclaimer

This AUDIT alcohol screening calculator is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

  • The AUDIT is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument.
  • Only a qualified healthcare provider can diagnose alcohol use disorder.
  • A high score indicates you should discuss your drinking with a healthcare professional.

⚠️ Safety Warning: If you've been drinking heavily for an extended period, do not stop suddenly without medical supervision. Alcohol withdrawal can cause dangerous symptoms including seizures.

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Privacy: All calculations happen in your browser. We do not store your responses.