Score the validated three-question AUDIT-C screen for risky alcohol use and learn what the result means.
AUDIT-C questionnaire
Answer based on your typical alcohol use during the past year. This screen does not diagnose alcohol use disorder.
About AUDIT-C alcohol screening
AUDIT-C is a brief alcohol screening questionnaire derived from the ten-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test developed by the World Health Organization. Its three questions cover drinking frequency, the usual number of drinks on a drinking day, and the frequency of consuming six or more drinks on one occasion. Each response receives zero through four points, producing a total from zero through twelve. Higher scores indicate a greater likelihood of risky drinking or an alcohol use disorder and support a conversation with a healthcare professional.
Common screening practice treats a score of 4 or more for men and 3 or more for women as positive, although organizations and clinical settings may use different thresholds. The cutoff selector applies those commonly cited values. A positive screen is not a diagnosis and does not mean that someone is an alcoholic. That term can be stigmatizing and is not the diagnostic conclusion of this questionnaire. A clinician may ask additional questions about quantity, control, consequences, tolerance, withdrawal, medications, pregnancy, health conditions, and safety before offering guidance.
A standard drink is defined differently across countries. In the United States it contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, roughly the amount in 12 fluid ounces of regular beer, 5 fluid ounces of wine, or 1.5 fluid ounces of distilled spirits. Strong beer, large wine pours, cocktails, and shared containers may contain more than one standard drink. Estimating actual standard drinks improves the usefulness of the answers.
Answer honestly for the period requested by your clinician, commonly the past year. Even a score below the cutoff does not guarantee that drinking is safe for a particular person. Pregnancy, driving, certain medications, liver disease, previous addiction, and other circumstances may call for avoiding alcohol. If stopping alcohol causes shaking, sweating, hallucinations, seizures, severe anxiety, or confusion, seek urgent medical care because withdrawal can be dangerous. This private calculator provides educational scoring only and does not replace confidential assessment, diagnosis, crisis support, or treatment.
AUDIT-C scoring examples
Response points
Total score
Illustrative interpretation
Never, one or two, never: 0 + 0 + 0
0
Below common cutoffs
Monthly or less, three or four, monthly: 1 + 1 + 2
4
Positive at common male and female cutoffs
Two to three times weekly, five or six, weekly: 3 + 2 + 3
8
Higher score warrants follow-up assessment
How to use AUDIT-C
Choose the screening cutoff that applies in your setting.
Select the answer that best reflects drinking frequency.
Select typical quantity and frequency of six or more drinks.
Calculate the score and discuss a positive screen or any concern with a healthcare professional.
Frequently asked questions
Does AUDIT-C diagnose alcoholism?
No. AUDIT-C is a screening tool that identifies people who may benefit from more assessment. A diagnosis requires a qualified professional and broader criteria.
What score is considered positive?
Common cutoffs are 4 or more for men and 3 or more for women. Some health systems use different thresholds based on their population and purpose.
What counts as one standard drink?
In the United States, one standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol. Many cans, glasses, and mixed drinks contain more than one standard serving.
Can I have a problem with a low score?
Yes. A score is not a guarantee of safety and does not capture every consequence or medical circumstance. Discuss any concern about control, harm, or withdrawal with a professional.
What should I do after a positive screen?
Consider sharing the result with a primary care or behavioral health professional for a confidential assessment. Seek urgent help for severe withdrawal symptoms or immediate safety concerns.