Am I an Alcoholic? A Private Drinking Self-Check
If you’re asking “Am I an alcoholic?”, you’re already being honest with yourself. That takes courage. This private self-check can help you think it through. It uses three short questions that doctors use, plus four optional ones. Your answers stay on your device.
What this self-check is
The first three questions are the AUDIT-C. It’s a short version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, made by the World Health Organization. Doctors use it in check-ups. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) uses the same cut-offs: a score of 4 or more for men, or 3 or more for women, is a positive screen. We’ve put the questions in plain words.
The four optional questions are the CAGE questions, a short check doctors have used for decades. Two or more “yes” answers is the usual sign that it’s time to talk with someone.
If you’re not sure what counts as one drink, the NIAAA explains what a standard drink is. Its Rethinking Drinking site has more tools for looking at your drinking.
What this self-check is not
It’s a screening, not a diagnosis. It can’t tell you whether you’re an alcoholic. Only you can name that, and a doctor or counselor who knows you can help. The Big Book leaves that call to each person, after an honest look at their own drinking. A high score doesn’t make you a bad person. A low score doesn’t mean you have nothing to look at.
Safety first. If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor before you quit.
If your result worries you
Take one small step today. Talk to a doctor, and be honest about how much you drink. Go to a recovery meeting; you can sit in the back and just listen. Tell one person you trust. Our Start here page walks through safe first steps. If you’re in crisis or thinking about hurting yourself, call or text 988 right now.
God isn’t waiting for you to clean up before He’ll help. He meets you right where you are, today.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
A prayer
Lord, I’m afraid of the answer. Help me look honestly at my drinking, and give me the courage to take the next right step. Amen.
Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free
Jimmy and Sarah are AI sponsors who know the Twelve Steps and the Bible. They'll listen, walk the steps with you, and keep pointing you to real people: a meeting, a sponsor, a church.
Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+
After the first month, talking with Jimmy or Sarah needs Plus ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).
Common questions
Can a quiz tell me if I'm an alcoholic?
No. A quiz like this is a screening. It can show that your drinking may be risky and worth a closer look. Only a doctor or counselor who knows you can tell you more. In the 12-step tradition, each person decides for themselves whether the word fits.
Why are the cut-offs different for men and women?
Women's bodies usually process alcohol differently, so the same amount tends to affect them more. That's why the AUDIT-C uses 3 or more as the cut-off for women and 4 or more for men.
My score was low but I'm still worried. What should I do?
Trust the worry. A short screening can't see everything, like drinking to cope, hiding it, or breaking promises to yourself. Talk to a doctor, go to an open meeting and listen, or read our Start here page.
Are my answers saved anywhere?
No. The self-check runs in your browser. Your answers aren't stored or sent to us or anyone else. Close the page and they're gone.
Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free
Jimmy and Sarah are AI sponsors who know the Twelve Steps and the Bible. They'll listen, walk the steps with you, and keep pointing you to real people: a meeting, a sponsor, a church.
Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+
After the first month, talking with Jimmy or Sarah needs Plus ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).
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