The AUDIT-C is the first three questions of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), a questionnaire developed for the World Health Organization. The three questions ask how often you drink, how much you drink on a typical day, and how often you drink heavily. Studies in primary care found that these three questions alone pick out most people whose drinking is risky for their health.
It takes about a minute. One drink means one standard drink: roughly a can of regular-strength beer, a small glass of wine or a single measure of spirits. Strong beers, large glasses and home pours often count as more than one. If you never drink, choose the first answer to each question.
The published cut-offs differ for men and women, so the first question asks which to use. If neither fits you, the women’s cut-off is the more cautious of the two.
Screening, not a diagnosis. A score can point to whether it may help to talk to a professional. It cannot tell you what you have, and a low score does not mean you should ignore how you feel.
Your result
0 out of 12
This is a screening result, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified professional who talks with you can say what it means for you. Your answers have not been sent anywhere.
How the score works
Each of the three drinking questions scores from 0 for the first answer to 4 for the last, giving a total from 0 to 12. The first question is not scored; it only picks the cut-off. In the validation studies, a total of 4 or more for men, or 3 or more for women, was the point that best picked out risky drinking or an alcohol use disorder. Generally, the higher the score, the more likely it is that drinking is affecting health and safety. The bands below are the ones published by the questionnaire’s authors.
| For | Total | Band |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 0–3 | Below the screening cut-off |
| Men | 4–12 | Positive screen for risky drinking |
| Women | 0–2 | Below the screening cut-off |
| Women | 3–12 | Positive screen for risky drinking |
When to get help
Consider speaking to a doctor if your score is at or above the cut-off, if you have tried to cut down and found it hard, or if drinking is causing problems with your health, work, money or relationships. If all of your points came from how often you drink, and none from how much, your drinking is more likely to be within lower-risk limits, but a doctor can confirm that.
If you drink heavily every day, do not stop suddenly without medical advice: withdrawal can be dangerous, and a doctor can help you cut down safely. Pregnancy, some medicines and some health conditions make any alcohol riskier, so ask a doctor what applies to you.
Finding support in Thailand
Our guide to mental health support in Thailand covers how to find a psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor, what to ask before booking, and what to expect at a first appointment.
Sources
- Bush K et al. The AUDIT alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C). Arch Intern Med 1998
- Bradley KA et al. Two brief alcohol-screening tests from the AUDIT: validation in a female Veterans Affairs patient population. Arch Intern Med 2003
- Bradley KA et al. AUDIT-C as a brief screen for alcohol misuse in primary care. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2007
- AUDIT-C questionnaire and scoring overview (CenCal Health, PDF)
- AUDIT: frequently asked questions, including permission to use (auditscreen.org)
- Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health: 1323 mental health hotline
- National Institute for Emergency Medicine: 1669 emergency medical service
The AUDIT-C is the first three questions of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), developed for the World Health Organization, validated as a short screen by Bush, Kivlahan and colleagues (1998) and Bradley and colleagues (2003, 2007). Question wording, answer options and cut-offs follow the published AUDIT-C form. As a WHO-approved instrument, the AUDIT is in the public domain. Last reviewed 24 October 2026.