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Substance Use · 1 min · 4 questions

CAGE: CAGE Alcohol Questionnaire

Four yes/no questions about drinking. About 1 minute.

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.

CAGE: 0 of 4 answeredScore: 0 / 4 · Negative screen

Please answer yes or no to each question.

  1. 1.Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?
  2. 2.Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
  3. 3.Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking?
  4. 4.Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover (Eye-opener)?

CAGE result

Answer all 4 questions for a complete result. Current partial score shown.

0
out of 4
Negative screen
Range 0–1

Your responses make an alcohol use problem less likely.

Recommended next steps

  • If your drinking changes, re-screen or speak with a doctor.

Answer the remaining questions to enable the report:

  • CAGE:

Screening result only, not a diagnosis. Share it with a doctor or therapist.

CAGE scoring guide

ScoreInterpretationSuggested action
0–1Negative screenIf your drinking changes, re-screen or speak with a doctor.
2–4Positive screenDiscuss your drinking honestly with a doctor.

Clinical background

What it measures

The CAGE is a four-question lifetime screen for alcohol problems, named for its key words: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener. It detects alcohol dependence rather than current hazardous drinking.

How it is scored

Each 'yes' scores 1 point. Two or more is the classic cut-point for a positive screen (Ewing, 1984). For current consumption and risk level, the AUDIT-C or full AUDIT is preferred.

Reference: Ewing JA. Detecting alcoholism: the CAGE questionnaire. JAMA. 1984;252(14):1905–1907.