Take the official WHO AUDIT (10 questions, score 0–40, four WHO risk zones) or the brief AUDIT-C (3 questions, score 0–12, sex-specific cutoffs from Bush et al. 1998). Item wording is reproduced from the WHO manual (WHO/MSD/MSB/01.6a) so the instrument stays faithful.
Full AUDIT: Q1–Q8 scored 0–4 + Q9–Q10 scored 0 / 2 / 4 = total 0–40 → Zone I (0–7) · Zone II (8–15) · Zone III (16–19) · Zone IV (20–40)AUDIT-C: Q1–Q3 scored 0–4 = total 0–12 → positive screen: ≥4 (men) / ≥3 (women)The WHO skip logic is applied automatically: answering “Never” to Q1 skips Q2–Q8; scoring 0 on Q2 + Q3 skips Q4–Q8. Skipped questions count as 0, exactly as in the WHO manual.
The AUDIT-C uses the first three AUDIT questions. Cutoffs differ by sex (Bush et al. 1998), so please select below — it is only used for the cutoff.
Low-risk drinking or abstinence. WHO level: alcohol education.
Hazardous use, above low-risk guidelines. WHO level: simple advice.
Harmful use. WHO level: simple advice plus brief counseling and continued monitoring.
Possible alcohol dependence. WHO level: referral to a specialist for diagnostic evaluation and treatment.
Zone boundaries follow the WHO AUDIT manual (Box 6). WHO notes the cutoff may vary slightly with national drinking patterns and standard-drink sizes, and that clinical judgment applies.
A person answers the 10 AUDIT questions as follows: Q1 “2 to 4 times a month” (2), Q2 “5 or 6” drinks (2), Q3 “Monthly” (2), Q4 “Monthly” (2), Q5 “Less than monthly” (1), Q6 “Less than monthly” (1), Q7 “Less than monthly” (1), Q8 “Less than monthly” (1), Q9 “No” (0), Q10 “No” (0).
The AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) is a 10-question screening instrument developed by the World Health Organization to identify hazardous and harmful alcohol use. Each question is scored and the total (0–40) places you in one of four WHO risk zones. It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
Questions 1–8 are scored 0–4 points each; questions 9 and 10 are scored 0, 2, or 4 points each. Add all ten answers for a total of 0–40. Example: answers of 2,2,2,2,1,1,1,1,0,0 give 2+2+2+2+1+1+1+1+0+0 = 12, which falls in Zone II (8–15).
The WHO manual defines four zones. Zone I (0–7): low-risk drinking or abstinence — WHO level: alcohol education. Zone II (8–15): hazardous use above low-risk guidelines — WHO level: simple advice. Zone III (16–19): harmful use — WHO level: simple advice plus brief counseling and continued monitoring. Zone IV (20–40): possible alcohol dependence — WHO level: referral to a specialist for diagnostic evaluation and treatment.
The AUDIT-C is the brief 3-question version of the AUDIT, using just its first three (consumption) questions. Each is scored 0–4 for a total of 0–12. It is used as a quick screen for risky drinking and is included in this tool as a second mode.
In the original validation study (Bush et al. 1998, Archives of Internal Medicine), a score of 4 or more in men and 3 or more in women indicated a positive screen for risky drinking. This tool uses those cutoffs. Other studies have proposed different cutoffs for specific populations, so treat the result as a screen, not a verdict.
That is the WHO instrument’s own skip logic, applied automatically here. Answering “Never” to Q1 skips Q2–Q8 (straight to Q9–Q10), and scoring 0 on Q2 plus Q3 skips Q4–Q8. Skipped questions count as 0 — exactly as the WHO manual instructs.
The 10 AUDIT items group into three domains: consumption (Q1–Q3, 0–12), signs of dependence (Q4–Q6, 0–12), and alcohol-related harm (Q7–Q10, 0–16). This tool shows all three so you can see which pattern drives your total — for example, a high consumption score with low dependence signs suggests a different conversation than the reverse. Only a health professional can interpret what that means for you.
The WHO notes that a standard drink’s size varies by country — about 10 grams of pure alcohol in the original WHO version, roughly 14 grams in the United States. Use your country’s definition when answering Q2 and Q3. Our standard drink guide explains common definitions.
This tool screens risk: it scores your answers and maps them to a WHO risk zone with interpretation. It does not track what you drink. The alcohol units tracker does the opposite — it logs drinks over time and estimates units, without screening or scoring risk. Use each for what it is built for.
No. The AUDIT is a validated screening instrument — it flags patterns that deserve attention. It cannot diagnose an alcohol use disorder, and a low score does not guarantee there is no problem. Only a qualified health professional, with a full assessment, can make a diagnosis.
First, remember this is screening information, not a verdict about you. The general guidance for higher scores is to talk with a health professional — a doctor, counselor, or addiction specialist — who can assess your situation properly. Many people find it helps to bring their item-by-item answers along. If drinking ever feels unsafe or out of control, seek professional help promptly.
The AUDIT is one of the most widely validated alcohol screening instruments in the world, developed through a WHO multinational study and tested in many countries and settings. No screening test is perfect: the WHO manual itself notes that cutoffs can vary with national drinking patterns and standard-drink sizes, and that clinical judgment applies when a score does not match other evidence. Treat the result as a starting point for a conversation with a professional, not a final answer.
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