When drinking becomes a concern
Drinking doesn't have to be daily or dramatic to affect your health. Regularly drinking more than the recommended limits, or often having several drinks in one sitting, raises the risk of sleep problems, anxiety, low mood, and longer-term health issues.
Noticing it early makes cutting back much easier, whatever your goal.
About this self-check
The three scored questions are the AUDIT-C, the short version of the World Health Organization's Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, used by doctors to screen for risky drinking. The last question just picks the right limit, which is lower for women.
Your answers stay in your browser. Saycalm doesn't see or store them, and only sends them anywhere if you ask us to email you your results.
The questions
Three questions about how often and how much you drink, and one that sets the recommended limit, which is different for women and men.
- How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
- How many standard drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day?
- How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?
- The recommended limit is lower for women than for men. Which should we use for you?
Common questions
What counts as one drink?
A standard drink is about 12 oz of regular beer (5% alcohol), 5 oz of wine (12%), or 1.5 oz of spirits (40%). Many restaurant pours and craft beers are more than one.
Does a high score mean I have an alcohol problem?
Not by itself. It means your drinking is at a level that's worth talking about with a doctor. They can help you understand the risks for you and decide together what to do.
Is it safe to stop drinking suddenly?
If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal, which can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor first; they can help you stop or cut down safely.
AUDIT-C: the first three questions of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), World Health Organization. Bush, K., Kivlahan, D.R., McDonell, M.B., et al. (1998). The AUDIT alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C). Archives of Internal Medicine 158:1789–1795. Used for screening only; not a diagnosis.
