AUDIT Screening
Alcohol use test
This is the AUDIT — the ten-question alcohol screen developed by the World Health Organization and used in clinics worldwide. It asks about your drinking over the past year. It is not a verdict or a label; it simply shows where your drinking sits on a well-studied risk scale.
The next questions are about your use of alcohol over the past year:
AUDIT Your result
Your AUDIT score
0 / 40
What this means
Sensible next steps
Read what the numbers mean in the AUDIT scoring guide. Curious how reliable it is? See how accurate the AUDIT is.
By the numbers Context
How common is risky drinking?
Risky drinking is common and often invisible. According to national survey data, about 29.5 million Americans aged 12 and older met criteria for alcohol use disorder in a recent year — yet only a small fraction receive any treatment, and fewer still receive medication that can help. Many people drinking at a harmful level feel fine day to day, which is exactly why a structured check is useful.
The AUDIT was developed by the World Health Organization across six countries specifically to catch risky drinking before dependence sets in. It does not label you an alcoholic; it places your drinking on a well-studied risk scale and shows, plainly, whether cutting down or talking to someone would be worthwhile.
29.5M
Americans aged 12+ with alcohol use disorder
NSDUH
≈8
AUDIT score that flags hazardous or harmful drinking
WHO
≈0.92
sensitivity of the AUDIT for risky drinking
Saunders, 1993
Sources: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) / NIAAA; Saunders et al., Addiction, 1993 (WHO AUDIT).
Score guide Interpretation
What your AUDIT score means
| Score | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| 0–7 | Low-risk range |
| 8–15 | Increasing-risk range |
| 16–19 | Higher-risk range |
| 20–40 | Possible-dependence range |
For what to do at each level, see the full AUDIT scoring guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the AUDIT alcohol test accurate?
The AUDIT is the most validated alcohol screen worldwide, developed by the WHO across six countries. It is very good at detecting hazardous and harmful drinking, though it screens risk rather than diagnosing a disorder.
What AUDIT score is a problem?
A score of 8 or higher indicates hazardous or harmful drinking. 16–19 suggests higher-risk drinking, and 20 or above is consistent with possible alcohol dependence. For women and adults over 65, a slightly lower cutoff of 7 is often used.
Am I an alcoholic if I score high?
A high score signals risky drinking worth addressing — it is not a diagnosis of "alcoholism". Alcohol use disorder is diagnosed by a clinician. A high AUDIT result is a reason for a conversation, not a label.
What are the warning signs of a drinking problem?
Warning signs include drinking more or longer than intended, wanting to cut down but not managing to, spending a lot of time drinking or recovering, cravings, drinking despite problems it causes at work or home, needing more to feel the same effect, and drinking in the morning. The AUDIT asks about these patterns over the past year.
Is this alcohol test confidential?
Completely. It is free, needs no sign-up, and is scored entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent anywhere or stored.
Should I stop drinking if I score high?
Cutting down is usually helpful, but if you drink heavily every day, do not stop abruptly on your own — alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous and may need medical support. Speak to a doctor about the safest way to reduce.