AUDIT-C is a concise, research-validated alcohol screening instrument. It distils the twelve-item AUDIT into three focused questions, each scored from zero to four, to quickly flag patterns linked to risky or harmful drinking. Healthcare providers and public-health researchers adopt the scale worldwide because it balances brevity with reliable sensitivity to excessive consumption.

Using your sex at birth and your responses, the tool sums the three item scores to produce a total between zero and twelve. A reactive engine instantly assigns that total to evidence-based risk bands and renders a colour-coded gauge, letting you interpret your drinking pattern without waiting or disclosing data to any server.

For example, a busy employee can, at home on a Sunday evening, check whether weekend drinks have crept into a risky range before an annual health review. The screen is not a substitute for professional evaluation; if results worry you, consult a qualified clinician without delay. Results do not constitute a clinical diagnosis.

Technical Details:

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Concise (AUDIT-C) is derived from the World Health Organization’s original ten-item AUDIT. Each item explores consumption frequency, typical quantity, or episodic heavy drinking, producing a rapid composite score that correlates strongly with full AUDIT results and biological markers such as γ-GT. The short form is validated across age groups, cultures, and clinical contexts.

Core Equation:

Total = q_{1} + q_{2} + q_{3}

q₁ – frequency score (0–4).
q₂ – typical quantity score (0–4).
q₃ – heavy-episode score (0–4).

Interpretation:

Totals map to four risk bands; evidence-based cut-offs differ by sex at birth.

Sex	Low Risk	Moderate	High	Possible Dependence
Male	0–3	4–5	6–7	8–12
Female	0–2	3–4	5–7	8–12

Variables & Parameters:

Parameter	Meaning	Unit / Range
sex	Sex assigned at birth; alters thresholds	male \| female
q1	Drinking frequency	0–4 integer
q2	Typical drinks per day	0–4 integer
q3	Heavy-episode frequency	0–4 integer
Total	Sum of q1–q3	0–12 integer

Worked Example:

Male chooses 2–3 times/week (3), five drinks (2), and monthly heavy episodes (1). Total = 3 + 2 + 1 = 6 ⇒ High Risk.

Assumptions & Limitations:

Scores assume standard-drink definitions of 10–14 g pure alcohol.
Self-reporting may under-estimate real intake bias risk.
Thresholds validated for adults; adolescents require caution.
Cultural drinking patterns can shift predictive values.

Edge Cases & Error Sources:

All “Never” answers give 0; abstinent recovery can still hide dependence.
Responses outside 0–4 are ignored.
Incomplete answers block score display until resolved.
Non-binary users must approximate with closest sex-based cut-off.

Scientific Validity & References:

Key studies by Bush et al. (1998), Bradley et al. (2007), and Kelly et al. (2019) confirm reliability against full AUDIT and clinician interviews.

Privacy & Compliance:

The calculation runs entirely in your browser; no personal health data leaves your device, supporting GDPR and HIPAA self-assessment criteria.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Complete the assessment in three quick stages.

Select your Sex at birth from the drop-down.
Press Start Assessment to reveal the questions.
Answer each item; the navigator highlights unanswered questions automatically.
Review your coloured gauge and score when all responses are entered.
Use the printable table to discuss results with a healthcare professional.

FAQ:

What is a “standard drink”?

One standard drink contains about 14 g pure alcohol, roughly 350 ml beer, 150 ml wine, or 45 ml spirits.

Is my data stored?

No. Answers stay within your browser session and vanish when you close the page.

Why ask for sex at birth?

Biological differences affect alcohol metabolism, so evidence-based cut-offs differ for males and females.

What if I am pregnant?

Medical guidelines advise abstinence during pregnancy; any non-zero score warrants professional advice.

Can I use this for legal screening?

The tool is intended for personal insight only; legal or occupational assessments require formal testing by accredited providers.

Glossary:

AUDIT-C: Three-item alcohol screening questionnaire.
Risk Band: Category describing likelihood of harmful drinking.
Standard Drink: Unit containing ≈14 g absolute alcohol.
Heavy Episode: Occasion of six or more drinks.
Composite Score: Sum of individual item scores.

AUDIT-C Alcohol Screen Assessment

Introduction: