AUDIT-C Calculator
The AUDIT-C is a brief alcohol screening tool based on the first 3 questions of the AUDIT questionnaire. It helps identify patients who may have unhealthy alcohol use.
In many clinical settings, a score of 4 or more in men or 3 or more in women is considered positive for unhealthy alcohol use screening. Higher scores are associated with greater likelihood of hazardous drinking or active alcohol use disorder. Clinical context still matters.
AUDIT-C stands for Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption. It is a 3-question screening tool used in healthcare to identify unhealthy, hazardous, or harmful alcohol use and to flag people who may have an active alcohol use disorder. It is a screen, not a diagnosis.
It asks about:
- How often you drink
- How much you drink on a typical drinking day
- How often you have 6 or more drinks on one occasion
Each answer is scored, and the total ranges from 0 to 12. In common clinical use, a score of 4 or more in men or 3 or more in women is often considered a positive screen for unhealthy alcohol use. In general, higher scores mean a greater likelihood that alcohol is affecting health and safety.
One simple way to think about it:
- 0 = no reported alcohol use
- Low scores = lower likelihood of unhealthy use
- Higher scores = more concern for risky drinking and possible alcohol-related problems
