CAGE Questionnaire Calculator

The CAGE questionnaire is a brief screening instrument designed to identify possible problems related to alcohol use. Its name comes from four themes: feeling a need to Cut down, becoming Annoyed by criticism, feeling Guilty about drinking, and using an Eye-opener drink in the morning. The questions usually refer to lifetime experience rather than only recent consumption. Each yes answer receives one point, producing a score from zero to four. A score of two or more is commonly treated as a positive screen for clinically significant alcohol concerns and a reason for further assessment. Some settings use a lower threshold to improve sensitivity. Three or four yes answers indicate greater concern, but the score does not measure the amount consumed, establish severity, or diagnose alcohol use disorder. A low score also cannot rule out risky drinking, especially because CAGE focuses on consequences and dependence-related experiences rather than current quantity and frequency. Screening works best when answers are honest, private, and followed by a respectful conversation. Clinicians may combine CAGE with questions about standard drinks, binge episodes, withdrawal symptoms, medicines, pregnancy, driving, work, relationships, and physical or mental health. Other instruments, such as AUDIT-C, are often used to assess current consumption. The appropriate next step depends on the full picture and can range from education or monitoring to a structured diagnostic evaluation and treatment support. This calculator stores answers only in the current page state and provides educational scoring, not medical advice. If the result raises concern, consider discussing it with a primary-care professional, behavioral-health clinician, or confidential alcohol support service. Do not abruptly stop heavy, prolonged alcohol use without medical guidance because withdrawal can be dangerous. Tremors, hallucinations, confusion, seizures, severe vomiting, breathing difficulty, or inability to stay awake require urgent medical attention. If alcohol creates an immediate safety risk, avoid driving and seek local emergency help.