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AUDIT-C Alcohol Screen

Reviewed by Albert Wong, PhD, Clinical Psychologist

The AUDIT-C is a three-question screen for risky drinking that asks how often you drink, how much you drink on a typical day, and how often you have six or more drinks at once. It is the consumption section of the World Health Organization AUDIT.

It takes under a minute. You can use it to check your own drinking, and clinicians use it as a routine screen. Your answers are scored in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.

Before you start: this is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. Whatever number you get, it belongs in a conversation with a professional who knows you.

Completely private: everything runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent or stored anywhere.

How to take the AUDIT-C

Think about how you usually drink, not your best or worst week.
Answer how often you have a drink containing alcohol.
Answer how many drinks you have on a typical day when you are drinking.
Answer how often you have six or more drinks on one occasion.
Read your score and compare it with the cutoff for men (4+) or women (3+).

What the AUDIT-C measures

The AUDIT-C is made up of the first three questions of the 10-item AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test). They focus only on how much and how often you drink, not on consequences or dependence. The version used here is the one published by Bush and colleagues in 1998.

How the AUDIT-C is scored

Each question is scored 0 to 4, for a total from 0 to 12.

A score of 4 or more is a positive screen for men, and 3 or more is a positive screen for women. When all of the points come from question 1 (how often you drink) and questions 2 and 3 are zero, drinking is likely below recommended limits, but it is still worth reviewing your intake over the past few months.

What your score means

In general, the higher the score, the more likely it is that drinking is affecting your health and safety. A positive screen is a reason to take the full 10-item AUDIT or to talk with a doctor or counselor about your drinking.

If you drink heavily every day, do not stop suddenly on your own. Alcohol withdrawal can be medically dangerous. Talk with a doctor first so you can cut back or stop safely.

Limits of a screening test

The AUDIT-C is a screen, not a diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder. It depends on honest, accurate recall of drinking, and standard drink sizes are often underestimated. It does not ask about problems caused by drinking, which the full AUDIT and a clinical conversation cover.

Using the AUDIT-C in your practice

The AUDIT-C works well as a routine screen at intake and at regular intervals, including in mental health settings where alcohol use can complicate depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms. Apply the sex-specific cutoffs, and note when the score comes entirely from question 1. Follow a positive screen with the full 10-item AUDIT or a focused clinical conversation.

Document the score, the cutoff applied, and the follow-up plan. Billing codes for alcohol screening differ from those used for mood questionnaires and vary by payer, so check current payer guidance. For clients who drink heavily every day, coordinate with medical care before advising them to stop, because withdrawal can be dangerous.

Common questions

What is a positive AUDIT-C score?

The AUDIT-C is scored 0 to 12. A score of 4 or more is a positive screen for men, and 3 or more is positive for women. When all points come from question 1 and questions 2 and 3 are zero, drinking is likely below recommended limits, though intake is still worth reviewing. Higher scores suggest drinking is more likely to affect health and safety.

Why are the AUDIT-C cutoffs different for women and men?

The AUDIT-C uses a cutoff of 3 or more for women and 4 or more for men. Women generally reach higher blood alcohol levels than men after the same amount of alcohol, and recommended drinking limits are lower for women. The lower cutoff reflects that difference in risk.

Is the AUDIT-C a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder?

No. The AUDIT-C is a three-question screen about how much and how often you drink. A positive result means drinking may be risky and deserves a closer look, usually with the full 10-item AUDIT or a conversation with a clinician. Diagnosing an alcohol use disorder requires a clinical evaluation.

What is the difference between the AUDIT-C and the full AUDIT?

The AUDIT-C is the first three questions of the 10-item AUDIT developed by the World Health Organization. It covers only drinking frequency and quantity. The full AUDIT adds questions about dependence symptoms and harm caused by drinking, so it gives a fuller picture after a positive AUDIT-C.

Is it safe to stop drinking suddenly?

Not always. If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can cause alcohol withdrawal, which can be medically dangerous. Talk with a doctor before you stop so they can help you cut back or stop safely, sometimes with medication or supervised care.

Is the AUDIT-C free to use, and how often should it be repeated?

The AUDIT-C comes from the World Health Organization AUDIT and is freely available for clinical and personal use. It is usually given at intake and then at routine intervals, such as yearly, or sooner when drinking is a concern or during treatment. Repeating it helps show whether drinking is changing over time.

Often given alongside

This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. If your score worries you, or if you didn't need a questionnaire to tell you something is wrong, please talk to a professional. In the U.S., call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), around the clock.

AUDIT-C: Bush K, Kivlahan DR, McDonell MB, et al. Archives of Internal Medicine, 1998; derived from the WHO AUDIT.

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Last updated September 24, 2026