What does my AUDIT score mean?
Your AUDIT score is a number from 0 to 40 that suggests a level of risk from drinking. It is a first check, not a diagnosis, and every range has a sensible next step.
Facts last checked: 11 October 2026
In short
- The AUDIT has 10 questions and a total score from 0 to 40. A higher score suggests more risk.
- The ranges are 0 to 7, 8 to 15, 16 to 19, and 20 to 40. Each one has a different next step.
- A score is a screening result, not a diagnosis. Only a trained professional can diagnose.
- If you drink heavily or every day, do not stop suddenly. Stopping suddenly can cause seizures (fits). Speak to a doctor first.
- Emergency: call 112. For support, call Tele-MANAS on 14416 or the national de-addiction helpline on 14446.
What the AUDIT is
AUDIT stands for Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed it as a simple first check for risky drinking.
Its 10 questions cover three areas: how much and how often you drink, signs of dependence, and problems that drinking has caused. Dependence usually includes a strong need to drink, difficulty controlling it, and feeling physically unwell when the alcohol is stopped.
Each answer gives 0 to 4 points. The points are added into one total, from 0 to 40. You can take the test in the Recoverly app after you sign in.
What each score range suggests
The WHO manual for the test sorts scores into four numbered ranges. The short names below describe each one. A higher score suggests more risk from drinking. It does not measure your worth or your character.
- 0 to 7: lower risk. This range covers low-risk drinking and not drinking at all.
- 8 to 15: the hazardous range. Hazardous drinking means drinking in a way that makes harm more likely, for you or for other people, even if no harm has happened yet.
- 16 to 19: the harmful range. Harmful drinking means alcohol is already affecting the body or the mind. A score here suggests this may be happening.
- 20 to 40: possible dependence. The manual says a score this high needs a full assessment by a specialist.
Do not stop drinking suddenly
If you drink heavily or every day, stopping suddenly can be medically dangerous. Withdrawal is the body's reaction when alcohol is suddenly stopped. It can cause seizures (fits) and delirium tremens, a severe form of withdrawal with sudden confusion. This can be life-threatening. Speak to a doctor before you reduce or stop. This applies at any score. It matters most if you drink large amounts every day or scored points on questions 4 to 6. It also matters if you have felt shaky or sweaty some hours after your last drink.
Why a score is not a diagnosis
The AUDIT is a screening tool, which means a quick first check. A score shows how likely a problem is. It does not confirm one.
In the studies used to develop the test, a score of 8 or more found most people with a drinking problem, but not all. Some people without a problem also scored 8 or more.
The WHO manual says a diagnosis is a necessary next step after a high score. A trained professional should make it. Use your score as a reason to talk to a doctor, not as a final answer.
A sensible next step for each range
- 0 to 7: keep doing what works for you. WHO has stated that no amount of alcohol is completely safe for health. The manual advises no alcohol at all when driving or using machines, when pregnant or planning a pregnancy, and with some illnesses or medicines.
- 8 to 15: the manual suggests simple advice on drinking less. Talk about your result with a doctor or counsellor. If you drink every day, ask how to reduce safely before you change anything.
- 16 to 19: the manual suggests advice, short counselling and regular follow-up. Please see a doctor or a de-addiction professional. Do not stop suddenly without medical advice.
- 20 to 40: please contact a doctor or a de-addiction service soon. A specialist can assess you and plan safe treatment. Do not stop suddenly without medical advice.
If you see a doctor, show them your score. Recoverly can prepare a one-page summary that includes your latest result.
The limits of a self-check
- The score depends on accurate answers. People who drink heavily sometimes underestimate how much they drink.
- A drink in the questions means a standard drink, about 10 grams of pure alcohol. Real servings can be bigger. In the manual's example, one 330 ml bottle of beer at 5% strength holds about 13 grams.
- Take the test when you have not been drinking. Answers given while affected by alcohol may not be reliable.
- The ranges are not exact for everyone. For women, and for men over 65, the manual says that starting the higher-risk range at 7 instead of 8 finds more people at risk.
- Single answers matter too. Questions 4, 5 and 6 ask about signs of dependence, such as not being able to stop once you start, or needing a drink in the morning. Tell a doctor about any points there, even if your total is low.
If you need help now
- Emergency: call 112. Call at once for a seizure, severe confusion, seeing or hearing things that are not real, or any danger to life.
- Tele-MANAS, the Government of India's mental health helpline: call 14416 or 1-800-891-4416. It is toll-free and open 24 hours a day.
- National de-addiction helpline, Government of India: call 14446. It is toll-free, for the person who drinks and for the family.
Many other people are in the same situation. A 2018 national survey for the Government of India found that more than 5.7 crore people (57 million) need help for their drinking.
Support, not medical advice
Recoverly helps you reflect on your habits — it is not medical care. If you drink heavily, stopping suddenly can be dangerous (withdrawal can cause seizures). Please talk to a doctor before making big changes to how much you drink.
Sources
This guide was written from the public health pages below. They are in English.
- AUDIT: the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: guidelines for use in primary health care (second edition, 2001) - publication page · World Health Organization
- AUDIT: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Guidelines for Use in Primary Care, Second Edition (WHO/MSD/MSB/01.6a) - full text PDF · World Health Organization (full text hosted by the HRB National Drugs Library, Ireland)
- No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health · World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe
- Alcohol-use disorder · NHS
- Alcohol withdrawal · MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine (NIH)
- National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction · Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
- Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan · Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
- National Mental Health Programme · Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
- Other Helplines · National Commission for Women, Government of India
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