AUDIT Score Calculator (WHO Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test)

Understanding the AUDIT score calculator — concept and principle

This calculator scores the AUDIT, the World Health Organization's 10-question Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and places the total in WHO risk zones I to IV with the suggested type of help. People checking their own drinking and primary-care staff use it as a screening tool.

How it is calculated

• Questions 1–8 score 0–4; questions 9–10 score 0, 2 or 4
• Total = sum of all ten answers (0–40)
• Zones: 0–7 Zone I (low risk); 8–15 Zone II (hazardous drinking); 16–19 Zone III (harmful drinking); 20–40 Zone IV (possible dependence)
• Questions 1–3 subtotal (0–12) reflects drinking amount and frequency

Some services use a lower Zone II cut-off of 7 for women.

The principle

The AUDIT was developed by WHO to detect hazardous and harmful drinking early, before serious problems appear. The first three questions cover how much and how often you drink, questions 4–6 signs of dependence, and 7–10 harms. Each answer adds points, so a higher total reflects more risk. WHO pairs each zone with a level of help, from information to referral. Question 3 uses the WHO wording of six or more drinks; one WHO standard drink is about 10 g of alcohol.

Worked example

Defaults: Q1 2 (2–4 times a month), Q2 1 (3 or 4 drinks), Q3 1 (less than monthly), Q4–Q6 0, Q7 1 (guilt less than monthly), Q8–Q10 0.

1. Total = 2 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 1 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 5.
2. Questions 1–3 subtotal = 4.
3. Zone: Zone I; WHO suggests Alcohol education.

How to read the result

Zone I means low risk at present, though WHO still recommends information about safer drinking. Zones II and above call for advice, brief counselling or specialist assessment. The AUDIT is a screening test, not a diagnosis; a health professional can interpret it with your circumstances.

Common mistakes

• Answering for a typical week instead of the past year.
• Counting large glasses as one drink.
• Treating a low score as permission to drink more.
• Using the test to diagnose someone else.

Frequently asked questions

What is a high AUDIT score?

8 or more suggests hazardous drinking; 20 or more suggests possible dependence.

How long does the AUDIT take?

Ten questions; usually a few minutes.

Is the AUDIT the same in every country?

The structure is the same, but some countries adapt the drink sizes and cut-offs.

Sources: Babor TF, Higgins-Biddle JC, Saunders JB, Monteiro MG, AUDIT: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test — Guidelines for Use in Primary Care, 2nd ed., World Health Organization, 2001