Sleep & Habits · ~1 min · 3 items · Printable form
AUDIT-C: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test — Consumption
Three consumption questions from the WHO AUDIT for quick alcohol-risk screening in primary care.
Medical disclaimer: this is a validated screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic test. Only a qualified health professional can diagnose a condition. Your answers are processed in your browser and are never sent or stored.
Form preview
Please answer the following questions about your alcohol use over the past year.
- 1.How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?Never (0)Monthly or less (1)2–4 times a month (2)2–3 times a week (3)4+ times a week (4)
- 2.How many standard drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day?1 or 2 (0)3 or 4 (1)5 or 6 (2)7 to 9 (3)10 or more (4)
- 3.How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?Never (0)Less than monthly (1)Monthly (2)Weekly (3)Daily or almost (4)
AUDIT-C scoring guide
| Score | Interpretation | Suggested action |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | Negative | Reinforce low-risk drinking guidelines. |
| ≥3 | Positive (women) | Women: ≥3 positive. Men: ≥4 positive. Offer brief intervention; consider full AUDIT. |
| ≥4 | Positive | Higher scores indicate greater risk; ≥8 suggests possible alcohol use disorder — assess further. |
Clinical background
What it measures
The AUDIT-C consists of the first three consumption questions of the WHO Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. It is widely used in primary care to identify hazardous drinking or active alcohol use disorders.
How it is scored
Each item scores 0–4, total 0–12. A score of 4 or more in men, or 3 or more in women, is considered positive (Bush et al., 1998). If all points come from question 1 alone, the person is likely drinking below recommended limits. Positive screens are typically followed by the full 10-item AUDIT and a brief intervention.
Reference: Bush K, Kivlahan DR, McDonell MB, et al. The AUDIT alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C). Arch Intern Med. 1998;158(16):1789–1795. Based on the WHO AUDIT (Babor et al., 2001).