Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

The «Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test» (AUDIT) was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is used to identify individuals with hazardous or harmful alcohol use.

Use the following quantities for a drink containing alcohol («standard drinks»):

  • 3 dl beer (4.5 Vol.-%)
  • 1 dl wine or sparkling wine (12 Vol.-%)
  • 3 cl liquor (40 Vol.-%)
  1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
  2. How many standard drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when drinking?
  3. How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?
  4. During the past year, how often have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?
  5. During the past year, how often have you failed to do what was normally expected of you because of drinking?
  6. During the past year, how often have you needed a drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?
  7. During the past year, how often have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?
  8. During the past year, have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?
  9. Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?
  10. Has a relative or friend, doctor or other health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?

AUDIT score:

Risk level:

Recommended intervention:

Interpretation
Points Risk level Intervention
≤ 7 I (unproblematic alcohol use) Alcohol education
8-15 II (problematic alcohol use possible) Simple advice
16–19 III (problematic alcohol use) Simple advice, brief counseling, and continued monitoring
≥ 20 IV (Possible alcohol dependence) Referral to specialist for diagnostic, evaluation and treatment
References
  1. Babor TF, Higgins-Biddle JC, Saunders JB, Monteiro MG. AUDIT - The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Guidelines for Use in Primary Care. 2nd ed. World Health Organization; 2001.

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