AUDIT Alcohol Use Disorder Score Calculator
What the AUDIT Alcohol Score Measures
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a 10-question screening tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is designed to identify patterns of alcohol use that may be hazardous, harmful, or suggestive of alcohol dependence. This calculator helps you total your AUDIT score and understand the general risk categories associated with different scores.
Importantly, the AUDIT is a screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic test. A high score means you should talk with a qualified professional, but it does not, by itself, confirm or rule out an alcohol use disorder or any medical condition.
How the AUDIT Questionnaire Is Structured
The 10 AUDIT questions are grouped into three main domains:
- Alcohol consumption (Questions 1–3): How often you drink and how much you typically consume.
- Symptoms of dependence (Questions 4–6): Signs that alcohol may be becoming difficult to control, such as not being able to stop once you start.
- Alcohol-related harm (Questions 7–10): Negative consequences of drinking, including injuries and concerns from others.
All questions refer to your drinking over the past 12 months. For the screening to be meaningful, answer as honestly and specifically as you can, even if some answers feel uncomfortable.
How the AUDIT Score Is Calculated
Each AUDIT question has a set of response options that correspond to numeric values from 0 to 4. In standard scoring:
- Responses indicating little or no alcohol use are scored as 0.
- Responses indicating increasing frequency, quantity, or problems receive scores from 1 up to 4.
The total AUDIT score is the sum of the 10 item scores, producing a range from 0 to 40. Higher scores reflect a greater likelihood that your drinking pattern is hazardous, harmful, or associated with dependence.
The calculation can be represented as:
where Qi is the score for question i, and S is your total AUDIT score.
Typical AUDIT Score Ranges and Risk Levels
Clinicians commonly group total scores into broad risk bands. Exact cutoffs may vary slightly between countries or guidelines, but a frequently used scheme is:
- 0–7: Low-risk drinking or abstinence.
- 8–15: Hazardous alcohol use (increased risk of harm).
- 16–19: Harmful alcohol use (likely alcohol-related problems).
- 20 or more: Possible alcohol dependence (high likelihood of significant problems and dependence).
The calculator uses these standard ranges to categorize your score and provide general guidance on next steps.
Interpreting Your AUDIT Results
Your numerical score is a summary of the pattern suggested by your answers. Use it as a starting point for reflection and, if needed, a conversation with a health professional.
- Score 0–7 (Lower risk): This range typically indicates low-risk or moderate alcohol use, or abstinence. It still makes sense to stay aware of how much and how often you drink, and to have regular alcohol-free days.
- Score 8–15 (Hazardous use): This suggests that your current drinking increases your risk of health or social problems over time. Brief counseling, self-help strategies, and tracking how much you drink can be helpful.
- Score 16–19 (Harmful use): This range is often associated with existing alcohol-related problems. It is advisable to consult a clinician to assess physical health, mental health, and the impact of drinking on work, relationships, and safety.
- Score 20 or more (Possible dependence): High scores like this often indicate that alcohol is causing major disruption and that dependence may be present. Professional support is strongly recommended, and sudden unsupervised withdrawal may be unsafe for some people.
Remember that a single score cannot capture the full story of your health or circumstances. Discussing your results with a doctor, nurse, counselor, or addiction specialist can put the number in context.
Worked Example of AUDIT Scoring
To see how the scoring works in practice, consider the following hypothetical person completing the AUDIT:
- How often do you have a drink containing alcohol? Chooses “2–3 times a week” (score 3).
- How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking? Chooses “3 or 4” (score 1).
- How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion? Chooses “Monthly” (score 2).
- How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started? Chooses “Less than monthly” (score 1).
- How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of drinking? Chooses “Never” (score 0).
- How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session? Chooses “Never” (score 0).
- How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking? Chooses “Monthly” (score 2).
- How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking? Chooses “Less than monthly” (score 1).
- Have you or someone else been injured because of your drinking? Chooses “No” (score 0).
- Has a relative, friend, doctor, or another health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down? Chooses “Yes, but not in the last year” (score 1).
Totaling these values gives:
3 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 0 + 0 + 2 + 1 + 0 + 1 = 11
A score of 11 falls in the 8–15 (hazardous use) range. For someone with this pattern, it would be sensible to:
- Reflect on situations where drinking tends to get heavier (for example, social events or stress).
- Set specific limits on number of drinks per occasion and per week.
- Consider a brief conversation with a clinician or counselor about ways to reduce risk.
How AUDIT Compares to Other Alcohol Screening Tools
The AUDIT is one of several tools used to screen for alcohol-related problems. Different tools have different strengths, and they may be chosen for different clinical settings.
| Tool | Number of questions | Primary focus | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUDIT | 10 | Consumption, dependence symptoms, and harm | General adult screening in primary care and community settings |
| AUDIT-C | 3 | Consumption only | Quick initial screen; often followed by full AUDIT if positive |
| CAGE | 4 | Lifetime problem drinking and dependence signs | Brief screening in medical or psychiatric settings |
| FAST | 4 | Hazardous drinking | Rapid assessment in busy clinics or emergency departments |
This calculator focuses on the full 10-item AUDIT, which offers more detail than ultra-brief tools while still being reasonably quick to complete.
Who the AUDIT Is Intended For
The AUDIT was originally developed and validated mainly for adults. It is generally not applied directly to children, and special versions or different tools may be used for adolescents. Age, physical health, mental health, and medications can all influence how risky a given drinking pattern is.
In addition, the definition of a “standard drink” and recommended limits can vary by country. In many guidelines, a standard drink is roughly:
- About 10–14 grams of pure alcohol, often equivalent to one small glass of wine, one regular beer, or one single measure of spirits.
Because glass sizes and drink strengths differ, your actual intake may be higher than you realize. When answering the AUDIT questions, think in terms of the number of typical servings of alcohol you consume, not just the number of containers.
Limitations, Assumptions, and Safety Notes
Like all screening tools, the AUDIT has important limitations and assumptions:
- Screening, not diagnosis: AUDIT scores help flag possible risk but do not establish a formal diagnosis of alcohol use disorder or any other condition.
- Self-report accuracy: The tool assumes that answers are honest and reasonably accurate. Underestimating or overestimating your drinking can change the score and its interpretation.
- Adult focus: The questionnaire is intended for adults. For adolescents, specialized tools and age-adjusted guidance are usually recommended.
- Health conditions and medications: People with liver disease, heart disease, mental health conditions, a history of seizures, or those taking certain medications may face serious risks at lower levels of drinking. For these groups, even scores in the “lower risk” range may still warrant caution or abstinence.
- Pregnancy and trying to conceive: Many health authorities advise avoiding alcohol during pregnancy and when trying to become pregnant. In these situations, any current drinking should be discussed with a clinician, regardless of the numerical AUDIT score.
- Cultural and regional differences: Thresholds used to trigger interventions may differ across countries and organizations. Use this score as a general guide, not a substitute for local clinical advice.
If your score is high, or if you are worried about your drinking for any reason, seek professional advice even if the calculator places you in a lower risk band.
When to Seek Urgent Help
Certain signs call for immediate medical or crisis support, regardless of your AUDIT score:
- Severe withdrawal symptoms, such as uncontrolled shaking, confusion, hallucinations, or seizures.
- Drinking to relieve withdrawal symptoms (for example, needing a drink in the morning to stop trembling).
- Thoughts about self-harm, suicide, or harming others, whether or not alcohol is involved.
- Any situation where alcohol use is leading to immediate danger, such as driving while intoxicated or repeated injuries.
If any of these apply, contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline available in your area, or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not wait for symptoms to resolve on their own.
Using This Calculator Responsibly
This tool is provided for general information and education only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not replace consultation with a qualified health professional. Never change or delay seeking professional care because of something you read here or because of a score you obtain with this calculator.
For the most reliable assessment and advice, bring your results to a doctor, nurse, counselor, or addiction specialist and discuss your drinking pattern, health history, medications, and goals.
Source and Methodology
The AUDIT questionnaire and its standard scoring system were developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). This calculator follows commonly used scoring and risk band interpretations based on published WHO materials and related clinical guidance. Local guidelines and professional judgment may lead to different thresholds or recommendations.