Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption (AUDIT-C)
Screen alcohol consumption patterns for further clinical assessment
Reference information · Questionnaire
- Last content update
- 2026-10-26
- Clinical review
- Not independently reviewed
- Source jurisdiction
- See individual sources
- Coverage
- Questionnaire
| Field | Instrument context |
|---|---|
| Version | Original three-item English AUDIT-C, six-drink third question; Health Net STABLE form with NIDA CDE public-domain confirmation |
| Population | Adults; clinician interpretation must consider population and setting |
| Respondent | Adult self-report or clinician interview |
| Recall period | Past year; establish this interval before administration |
| Purpose | Screen alcohol consumption patterns for further clinical assessment |
A total does not establish individual item responses.
Answer all three questions about drinking over the past year. Select one response for each question. Discuss what constitutes a standard drink with the clinician before answering: drink sizes and alcohol concentration vary. This original form uses six or more drinks in question3; it is not the USAUDIT-C adaptation. If you have not consumed alcohol, select Never for questions1 and3 and the lowest quantity category for question2; its score is zero. Names and dates are recorded separately, outside this page.
AUDIT-C: Bush K, Kivlahan DR, McDonell MB et al (1998); Bradley KA, Bush KR, Epler AJ et al (2003). Public-domain status explicitly stated in the NIDA CDE record and selected clinical form. Source publication layout is not reproduced.
Responses stay in this page’s memory. Reset or leave the page to clear them. No patient identifiers are collected.
Interpretation & limitations
- Higher totals reflect more reported alcohol consumption. Apply the appropriate population-specific screening guide and follow up clinically; the score alone does not establish an alcohol-use diagnosis.
- Add the three ratings, each0–4, for a total0–12. Missing responses are not scored as zero.
- The source validation guides use a score of4 or more for men and3 or more for women. These are screening guides derived from specified populations, not diagnostic criteria; consider age, pregnancy, clinical setting and local validation.
- The source advises checking accuracy when all points come from question1 while questions2 and3 are zero. This website does not declare drinking safe or infer recommended consumption limits.
- The original six-drink question and standard-drink context must be retained when comparing results. Do not substitute US-specific four/five-drink thresholds without selecting a different validated edition.
- No automatic diagnosis, medication change or declaration of safety.
- All three responses are required. Review inconsistent responses in the clinical interview.
References · 3
- Exact three-question form and five response options; scoring guide on page1
- NIDA-stewarded NIH CDE AUDIT-C public-domain statement and score range · The NIDA-stewarded NIH Common Data Elements record explicitly states that AUDIT-C is available for use in the public domain. The exact selected clinical form independently repeats that statement. This finding is specific to AUDIT-C and does not establish rights for the full AUDIT or other WHO instruments.
- NIAAA original six-drink wording, past-year context and distinction from US adaptations