Tools

AUDIT: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

Last reviewed

Ten questions about drinking over the past year, scored 0–40

The AUDIT was developed by the World Health Organization as a screen for drinking that is risky before it becomes damaging. Its ten questions cover three things: how much and how often you drink, early signs of dependence, and harm that drinking has already caused. It was validated across six countries and is now the standard alcohol screen in UK primary care and NHS services. It takes about two minutes.

Alcohol sits awkwardly with post-viral illness. It worsens sleep quality and lowers overnight HRV, it dilates blood vessels and pulls fluid, which is exactly what someone with POTS is trying to avoid, and hangovers and post-exertional malaise compound each other. Many people find their tolerance collapses after the illness begins. Others lean on alcohol to get to sleep or to cope with a shrunken life. Neither is a moral matter; both are worth knowing about, especially before starting medication. If you track HRV, the HRV tracker will usually show you what a drink costs.

Answer for the past 12 months. One "drink" means one standard drink of roughly 10 g of alcohol, close to a small glass of wine, half a pint of ordinary-strength beer, or a single measure of spirits; in UK units that is about 1.25 units.

Because alcohol use can affect your health and can interfere with certain medications and treatments, it is important to answer honestly. Your answers are never sent anywhere. Your score is saved only in this browser, and you can delete it at any time.

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

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

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

4. How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?

5. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected of you because of drinking?

6. How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?

7. How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?

8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because of your drinking?

9. Have you or someone else been injured because of your drinking?

10. Has a relative, friend, doctor or other health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?