Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was developed by the World Health Organization in 1982 as a simple way to screen and identify people who are at risk of developing alcohol problems.
The AUDIT test focuses on identifying the preliminary signs of hazardous drinking and mild dependence. It is used to detect alcohol problems experienced within the last year. It is one of the most accurate alcohol screening tests available, rated 92 percent effective in detecting hazardous or harmful drinking.
Unlike some alcohol screening tests, the AUDIT has proven to be accurate across all ethnic and gender groups.
The test contains 10 multiple choice questions on the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption, drinking behaviour and alcohol-related problems or reactions. On average it should take 2 minutes to complete.
The answers are scored on a point system, with different scores indicating different actions to be taken.
PLEASE NOTE – Some questions ask about how many drinks you have had. For the purpose of this screening test, a drink is defined as follows:
- A 1/2 pint of normal strength beer, lager or cider
- A bottle of Stella (330ml) is 1.7 units – A pint of Stella is 3 units
- A can of extra strength lager can be as much as 4 units
- 2 litres of extra strong cider can be as much as 15 units
- A single pub measure of spirits – 25ml
- An alcopop like Smirnoff Ice or WKD contains about 1.5 units
- A single glass of wine – 125ml
- A large glass of wine is 1.5 units
- A bottle can contain over 9 units
