AUDIT-C
AUDIT-C — Alcohol Use Screen (3-item)
The three-item consumption-focused short form of the AUDIT.
3
1 min
adult
0–12
About the AUDIT-C
The AUDIT-C is the three consumption items of the full AUDIT, used as a rapid screen for hazardous drinking and active alcohol use disorders. It focuses purely on how often and how much a person drinks, which makes it quick enough for universal screening.
Each item scores 0–4 for a total of 0–12. Common positive thresholds are 4 or more for men and 3 or more for women, though local guidance varies.
What it measures
- Frequency of drinking
- Typical quantity on a drinking day
- Frequency of heavy episodic (binge) drinking
AUDIT-C questions
- 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 drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?
1 or 2 · 3 or 4 · 5 or 6 · 7 to 9 · 10 or more - 3
How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?
Never · Less than monthly · Monthly · Weekly · Daily or almost daily
Items reproduced from a documented, freely usable source. Item wording is preserved exactly as published.
Scoring & interpretation
| Range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 | Low risk | Score below the common screening cutoff. |
| 4–7 | At risk | Possible hazardous drinking — further assessment recommended (lower threshold typically applied for women: ≥3). |
| 8–12 | High risk | High likelihood of alcohol use disorder — administer full AUDIT and refer. |
Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.
Clinical applications
- Universal alcohol screening where the full AUDIT is too long
- Gating administration of the full AUDIT or a brief intervention
Frequently asked questions
What is a positive AUDIT-C score?
A score of 4 or more in men and 3 or more in women is commonly used to indicate hazardous drinking, though thresholds vary by setting.
Source & references
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