Screening tools

The AUDIT alcohol test, explained — including AUDIT-C

Updated 2026-07-11 · Grounded in: WHO AUDIT manual (Babor et al., 2nd ed. 2001) · Saunders et al. 1993 · Bush et al. 1998 (AUDIT-C)

The AUDIT — Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test — is a ten-question screening tool developed for the World Health Organization in the 1980s and 90s to help spot risky drinking early, before it becomes entrenched. It's probably the most widely used alcohol screen in the world: primary-care doctors, hospitals, and research teams have relied on it for three decades across dozens of countries.

AUDIT-C is its short form: just the first three questions, the ones about consumption — how often you drink, how much on a typical day, and how often six or more drinks land on one occasion. Clinics often use AUDIT-C as a quick first pass, then ask the remaining seven questions when the first three suggest it's worth a closer look. That two-stage approach is exactly how the free check-in here works.

What the ten questions cover

The questions fall into three groups. The first three (AUDIT-C) measure consumption — frequency, typical amount, and heavy occasions. The next three look at signs of dependence: not being able to stop once started, drinking getting in the way of what was expected of you, needing a drink in the morning. The last four ask about harms: guilt or remorse, memory blackouts, injuries, and whether people around you have been concerned.

Each answer scores from 0 to 4 (the last two questions score 0, 2, or 4), so the full test runs from 0 to 40.

How the scoring is generally read

In the WHO manual, lower scores are generally read as lower-risk drinking, a middle range as hazardous or harmful drinking that deserves attention and a plan, and higher ranges as a level where dependence is possible and a professional assessment is the sensible next step. Exact cut-offs vary a little by country and by sex — which is one reason a score should be read with context, not as a verdict.

On AUDIT-C alone, clinics commonly treat scores of about 3+ for women and 4+ for men as a signal to look closer. A signal — not a sentence.

Honest limits

A screening tool estimates how risky a pattern looks — it cannot diagnose anyone. Only a qualified clinician can do that, with a real conversation.
Scores describe the recent past you reported. They don't define you, and they change when the pattern changes.
An honest result needs honest answers, and it's normal for the first attempt to soften things. The tool works best as a private conversation with yourself.

Take it privately — no name, no account

The free check-in uses the real, validated questions described above. About three minutes, a plain-words result, and a first step that fits it — including an honest pointer to professional care when that's the right answer.

Start the free check-in

Common questions

Is the AUDIT test a diagnosis?

No. It's a screen — a structured way to estimate whether a drinking pattern looks risky. A diagnosis can only come from a qualified clinician after a proper assessment. A high score means "worth taking seriously" — it is never a verdict.

What's the difference between AUDIT and AUDIT-C?

AUDIT is the full ten-question test. AUDIT-C is the first three questions, covering how much and how often you drink. AUDIT-C is faster and works well as a first pass; the full AUDIT adds questions about dependence signs and harms, which gives a fuller picture.

What is a normal AUDIT score?

There's no single "normal". Lower scores are generally read as lower risk, and most people who drink socially land there. What matters more than any one number is honesty while answering — and whether the number moves over time.

Can I take the AUDIT test online for free?

Yes. The check-in on this site uses the real AUDIT questions — the same wording clinicians use — takes about three minutes, and is private: no name and no account needed to see your result.

Who created the AUDIT?

It was developed by an international group of researchers for the World Health Organization, published in 1993 after a six-country study, with a revised manual in 2001. It was built specifically to catch risky drinking early, across cultures.

How accurate is it?

For a ten-question tool, remarkably useful — that's why it's survived thirty years of use and research. But its accuracy depends entirely on honest answers, and it screens; it doesn't diagnose. Treat the result as a well-informed starting point.

The Mansio is a private wellness, education, and behaviour-change support tool. It is not a medical device, not therapy, and not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care. If you're in crisis, call your local emergency number — crisis help is always free and never requires an account.