How to assess your drinking and why a short talk with a doctor helps
Risky SubstancesKey points
- AUDIT is a 10-question WHO test for assessing risk.
- A brief intervention reduces drinking by about 20 g a week.
- The effect lasts at least a year.
- Assessment is the first step to change.
The AUDIT test
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test was developed by the WHO. Its 10 questions cover how much and how often you drink, signs of dependence and alcohol-related problems. A shorter 3-question version, AUDIT-C, is widely used in U.S. primary care. You can take both on our quizzes page.
A short conversation works
A Cochrane review of 69 trials found that brief interventions in primary care, usually 5 to 15 minutes of feedback and advice, reduced alcohol consumption by about 20 g a week after one year compared with minimal or no intervention (Kaner et al., 2018).
Why it matters
Mortality starts to rise above about 100 g of alcohol a week (Wood et al., 2018), and cutting back lowers blood pressure (Roerecke et al., 2017).
Frequently asked questions
What does "heavy drinking" mean in the U.S.?
NIAAA defines heavy drinking as more than 4 drinks on any day or more than 14 a week for men, and more than 3 on any day or more than 7 a week for women.
What is binge drinking?
A pattern that brings blood alcohol to 0.08%, typically 5 or more drinks for men or 4 or more for women within about 2 hours.
Sources
- Kaner et al. (2018). Effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions in primary care populations. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018(6). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004148.pub4
- Wood et al. (2018). Risk thresholds for alcohol consumption: combined analysis of individual-participant data for 599 912 current drinkers in 83 prospective studies. The Lancet 391(10129):1513-1523. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30134-X
- Roerecke et al. (2017). The effect of a reduction in alcohol consumption on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Public Health 2(2):e108-e120. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(17)30003-8
- World Health Organization. AUDIT: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. www.who.int
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Risky Substances tools
AUDIT: the WHO alcohol use test
10 WHO questions about how often and how much you drink, and its consequences.
QuizAUDIT-C: quick alcohol check
The first three AUDIT questions: a one-minute screen widely used in U.S. primary care.
QuizFagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence
6 questions to gauge physical dependence on nicotine.
PDF · PlanQuit smoking plan
A personal plan: quit date, reasons, triggers, substitutes and support.
PDF · TrackerSmoke-free days tracker
A monthly tracker with craving ratings and notes.
PDF · DiaryWeekly drink diary
Record how much you drink and in what situations.