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AUDIT-C Explained: What Your Score Means

Three questions, a score out of 12 — and a widely misunderstood limit on what it can tell you.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Nageley Michel, DNP, PMHNP, FNP, Board-Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner  ·  Published 2026-09-09

The AUDIT-C is a three-question screening tool for risky drinking, derived by Bush et al. (1998) from the World Health Organization's longer AUDIT questionnaire. It is used routinely in primary care because it is quick and reasonably good at flagging patterns worth discussing.

What it asks

  1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
  2. How many drinks do you have on a typical drinking day?
  3. How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?

Each is scored 0–4, giving a total between 0 and 12.

How scores are interpreted

Higher scores indicate a greater likelihood of risky drinking. Commonly used thresholds are 3 or more for women and 4 or more for men, though a more conservative single cut-off is often applied where sex is not recorded. A score above the threshold is a prompt for further conversation — not a diagnosis.

What it cannot tell you

This is the part most often missed. The AUDIT-C measures consumption patterns only. It does not ask about consequences, control, craving, or the effect of drinking on your life — which is most of what alcohol use disorder actually consists of.

So a low score does not rule out a problem. Someone who drinks modestly but cannot stop once started, or whose drinking is damaging a relationship, may score low and still have something worth addressing. Equally, a high score is not a diagnosis; only a full clinical evaluation can establish that.

A score is a starting point Screening tools are designed to identify who might benefit from a longer conversation. They are not designed to conclude one. If your drinking concerns you, that concern is meaningful information regardless of what the number says.
If you drink daily or heavily Stopping suddenly after sustained heavy drinking can cause withdrawal that is medically serious — shaking, sweating, a racing heart, confusion, or seizures. Do not stop on your own to "get ready" for treatment. Tell a provider how much and how often you drink; that shapes how treatment is started safely. If you are in medical distress, call 911.

Talk it through with a provider

A 45–60 minute video evaluation with a board-certified psychiatric provider. Same-week appointments are typical.

Book an Evaluation → Check My Drinking

Common questions

Scores of 0–2 generally suggest lower-risk drinking. Commonly used thresholds for further discussion are 3 or more for women and 4 or more for men, though practice varies and a conservative cut-off is often used.

No. It is a screening instrument that measures drinking patterns. A diagnosis of alcohol use disorder requires a full clinical evaluation against established criteria.

Yes. The AUDIT-C asks only about consumption, not about control, craving or consequences — which are central to alcohol use disorder. A low score with real concerns still warrants a conversation.

It is only useful if it reflects a typical month. Understating drinking produces a reassuring number and no benefit — and if you go on to seek treatment, it can affect how safely that treatment is started.

Related reading

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Can You Have AUD Without Drinking Every Day? Medication for Alcohol Cravings

This article is general health information, not medical advice, and does not create a provider–patient relationship. Only a licensed provider can diagnose alcohol use disorder or determine whether a particular treatment is appropriate for you, after a full evaluation. Individual results vary. EnnHealth provides outpatient telehealth care and is not a detox or emergency service.