Assessment Tool: AUDIT-C

The AUDIT-C is a concise 3-item version of the full AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) developed by the WHO. It identifies hazardous or harmful alcohol use in adults. Select the appropriate threshold based on sex assigned at birth, then complete all three items. A positive screen warrants full AUDIT administration and brief intervention.

AUDIT-C — Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (Concise)

A validated 3-item screen for hazardous or harmful alcohol use. Maximum score is 12. Positive screen: ≥ 3 for women or ≥ 4 for men. Developed by the World Health Organization; abbreviated version validated by Bush et al. (1998).

Score thresholds

Women: < 3 | Men: < 4

Negative — low-risk or abstinent

Women: ≥ 3 | Men: ≥ 4

Positive — hazardous/harmful drinking

Sex assigned at birth is used for threshold selection because research thresholds were established using biological sex. Select the appropriate threshold before calculating.

Apply threshold for: Women (threshold ≥ 3) Men (threshold ≥ 4)

1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

Never Monthly or less 2–4 times a month 2–3 times a week 4 or more times a week

2. How many standard drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?

1–2 3–4 5–6 7–9 10 or more

3. How often do you have 6 or more drinks on one occasion?

Never Less than monthly Monthly Weekly Daily or almost daily

Result

AUDIT-C Score: 0/12

Screen result:

A positive AUDIT-C screen warrants full AUDIT (10-item) administration and clinical follow-up including brief intervention, counseling referral, and assessment for alcohol use disorder.

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