The AUDIT-C is the first 3 questions of the full 10-question Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), developed by the World Health Organization. It is widely used in clinical settings as a brief, validated screen for unhealthy alcohol use.

What score is considered a positive screen?

A score of 3 or higher is a positive screen for men; a score of 2 or higher is a positive screen for women. Higher scores indicate greater likelihood of unhealthy or hazardous drinking.

No. The AUDIT-C is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A positive screen suggests you may benefit from a more detailed assessment by a qualified healthcare provider. Always discuss your results with a clinician.

What counts as one standard drink?

In the United States, one standard drink contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol — equivalent to 12 oz of regular beer (5% ABV), 5 oz of wine (12% ABV), or 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (40% ABV).

How accurate is the AUDIT-C?

Research shows the AUDIT-C has sensitivity of approximately 73–86% and specificity of 89–93% for detecting unhealthy alcohol use, making it one of the most efficient brief alcohol screens available.

Why are the thresholds different for men and women?

Women typically have lower body water content and different alcohol metabolism than men, so smaller amounts of alcohol produce higher blood-alcohol concentrations and greater health risk at lower consumption levels.

AUDIT-C Score Calculator — Alcohol Use Screening Test, Risk

Score	Men	Women
0 – 2	Negative	Negative
3 – 4	Positive	Positive
5 – 8	Positive	Positive
9 – 12	Positive	Positive

Summary

Answer 3 quick questions about your drinking habits to get your AUDIT-C score and find out if your alcohol use may be risky.

How it works

Select your biological sex so the correct positive-screen threshold is applied.
Answer Question 1: how often you drink alcohol (scored 0–4).
Answer Question 2: how many drinks you have on a typical drinking day (scored 0–4).
Answer Question 3: how often you have 6 or more drinks on one occasion (scored 0–4).
Your AUDIT-C total (0–12) is displayed with a risk interpretation and a recommendation to discuss results with a clinician.

Use cases

Primary-care pre-visit screening to flag patients who may need counseling.
Self-assessment to understand whether your drinking pattern is considered risky.
Public-health education about standard drink thresholds and risk levels.
Nursing and medical students learning to administer validated screening tools.
Occupational health programs assessing employee wellness.
Telehealth intake forms where a quick alcohol screen is needed.

AUDIT-C Score Calculator