AUDIT: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

10-item WHO screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence. ≈ 3 min to complete. Free with attribution.

addiction 10 items ≈ 3 min Updated 2026-05-06

Score AUDIT below → Download printable PDF View source paper (DOI)
What is AUDIT? AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) is a validated instrument used to assess 10-item who screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence.. It is used in 10-item who screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence.. It comprises 10 items. Administration takes about 3 min.

What is AUDIT?

AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess 10-item who screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence.. It is most often used for 10-item who screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence.. The instrument contains 10 items. Typical administration time is ≈ 3 min.

Source / attribution: Free to use with citation

Clinical context: when AUDIT is used

10-item WHO screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence. AUDIT is part of standard practice in this setting because it provides a structured, replicable assessment that can be tracked over time and compared across patients or visits.

Like all screening or assessment instruments, AUDIT is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.

Score AUDIT

Answer all 10 items below to see your AUDIT score and interpretation.

Each item is scored on a 5-point scale (0–4). Your score updates live as you answer.

All scoring runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere — close the tab and the answers are gone.

How AUDIT is scored

Sum all 10 items scored 0-4. Total range 0-40. Higher scores indicate greater alcohol-related problems.

Scoring notes: Sum all 10 items scored 0-4. Total range 0-40. Higher scores indicate greater alcohol-related problems.

AUDIT score interpretation

The cutoffs below are drawn from the published validation literature. Always interpret in clinical context.

Score rangeBandInterpretation
0–7Low riskAlcohol education
8–15Hazardous useBrief intervention
16–19Harmful useBrief intervention + counseling
20–40DependenceReferral for treatment

How to score AUDIT: a step-by-step worked example

This is an illustrative walkthrough, not a real patient. Follow the same four steps with your own answers — or use the live calculator at the top of this page.

Step 1 — Score each item

Read each question and choose the response that best fits. Each response has a number next to it — that number is the item's score. The example below uses illustrative answers.

#ItemExample responseScore
1How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?2-4 times a month2
2How many standard drinks on a typical day when you are drinking?5 or 62
3How often do you have 6 or more drinks on one occasion?Monthly2
4How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?Monthly2
5How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected of you because of drinking?Monthly2
6How often during the last year have you needed a drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?Monthly2
7How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?Less than monthly1
8How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because of your drinking?Monthly2
9Have you or someone else been injured because of your drinking?Yes, but not in the last year2
10Has a relative, friend, doctor, or other health care worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?No0

Step 2 — Add up the scores

Add up all the item scores you noted in Step 1.

2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 0 = 17

Step 3 — Look up the band

Find the row in the interpretation table whose range contains your total:

Total = 17 falls between 16 and 19Harmful use

Step 4 — What does this mean clinically?

Harmful use. Brief intervention + counseling

A score is one input alongside history and examination. AUDIT supports clinical judgment — it does not replace it.

Score AUDIT with your own answers above →

AUDIT psychometric properties

Psychometric figures are drawn from the validation literature and may vary across clinical populations and translations.

Limitations & common pitfalls

How AUDIT compares to other addiction scales

If AUDIT doesn't fit your context, related instruments in addiction include:

ScaleMeasuresItemsTime
AUDIT-C3-item brief version of AUDIT for quick alcohol screening in clinical settings.3≈ 1 min
CAGEClassic 4-item screening test for alcohol problems.4≈ 1 min
DAST-1010-item brief screener for drug use problems excluding alcohol and tobacco.10≈ 3 min
FTND6-item measure of nicotine dependence severity for smoking cessation planning.6≈ 2 min
PHQ-9Severity of depression9≈ 3 minutes
GAD-7Severity of generalized anxiety7≈ 2 minutes
CHA2DS2-VAScAnnual stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation8
Glasgow Coma ScaleLevel of consciousness after head injury3

Frequently asked questions about AUDIT

What does AUDIT measure?

AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) is a validated instrument that assesses 10-item who screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence.. Its primary clinical use is 10-item who screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence..

How long does AUDIT take to complete?

AUDIT typically takes ≈ 3 min to administer. Time can vary slightly depending on whether it is self-administered or clinician-led.

How many items are on AUDIT?

AUDIT contains 10 items. Items are summed to produce a total score.

What is a high AUDIT score?

Scores of 20–40 fall in the "Dependence" band. Referral for treatment

What is a low AUDIT score?

Scores of 0–7 fall in the "Low risk" band. Alcohol education

How reliable is AUDIT?

AUDIT has reported Cronbach's α of 0.93 in validation samples and test–retest reliability of 0.88. Validated in primary care and community settings across cultures.

Is AUDIT free to use?

AUDIT is free to use with attribution. Free to use with citation

What is the source paper for AUDIT?

Saunders, J. B., Aasland, O. G., Babor, T. F., de la Fuente, J. R., & Grant, M. (1993). Development of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Addiction, 88(6), 791-804.

Can AUDIT replace clinical judgment?

No. AUDIT is a structured assessment aid. A score is one input alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.

References & validation

AUDIT is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: