Am I an Alcoholic? Take the 11-Question Self-Test
The short answer
You may have alcohol use disorder, the medical term for what many people call alcoholism, if alcohol repeatedly causes loss of control, cravings, risky behavior, relationship trouble or withdrawal. Two or more of 11 symptoms during the same 12-month period support a possible disorder, but only a qualified clinician can diagnose it.
The free interactive self-test is directly below this introduction. Answer all 11 questions, then read the result as a reason to consider professional assessment, not as a diagnosis.
You do not have to drink daily, lose your job or reach a crisis before asking for help. Weekend binges, the Friday work drinks that keep going, hiding how much you pour and needing alcohol to settle morning shakes can all signal different kinds of risk. The questions and scoring method are also written out below so you can review every answer.
What are the 11 alcohol self-test questions?
Answer yes only when the symptom happened during the same 12-month period. Each yes counts as one symptom, and each question counts no more than once.
- Did you often drink more, or for longer, than you intended?
- Did you want to cut down or stop drinking but could not?
- Did you spend a lot of time drinking, getting alcohol or recovering from its effects?
- Did you experience a strong urge or craving to drink?
- Did drinking, or its aftereffects, repeatedly interfere with responsibilities at home, work or school?
- Did you keep drinking even though it caused or worsened conflict with family or friends?
- Did you give up or reduce work, social or recreational activities because of drinking?
- Did you repeatedly drink in situations where it was physically hazardous, such as before driving?
- Did you keep drinking despite knowing it was causing or worsening a physical or mental health problem?
- Did you need more alcohol than before to get the effect you wanted, or get less effect from the same amount?
- When alcohol wore off, did you have withdrawal symptoms, or drink to prevent or relieve those symptoms?
To total the result, add one point for every yes. Your total can range from 0 to 11.
How should I read my result?
A count of two or more symptoms supports possible alcohol use disorder, or AUD. The count suggests potential severity, but it does not establish a diagnosis by itself.
| Yes answers | What the count means | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 1 | Does not meet the symptom threshold for AUD | Review quantity, binge episodes and alcohol-related risks |
| 2 to 3 | Possible mild AUD | Arrange a clinical alcohol assessment |
| 4 to 5 | Possible moderate AUD | Discuss treatment options and withdrawal risk with a clinician |
| 6 to 11 | Possible severe AUD | Seek prompt clinical guidance and do not assume stopping alone is safe |
These thresholds come from NIAAA guidance on AUD diagnosis and recovery. A clinician must confirm that the symptoms occurred within the same 12 months, caused meaningful problems and are not better explained by medication, another substance or a medical condition.
Is this the same as an AUDIT-C test?
No. AUDIT-C is a brief consumption-focused screen, while this self-test counts the 11 symptoms used in the clinical framework for AUD.
| Check | What it examines | What it can tell you |
|---|---|---|
| This 11-question test | Loss of control, consequences, tolerance and withdrawal | How many possible AUD symptoms you report |
| AUDIT-C | Alcohol consumption pattern | A screen for unhealthy alcohol use that may need follow-up |
| Weekly or binge thresholds | Amount and speed of drinking | Population-level risk, not an AUD diagnosis |
| Clinical assessment | Symptoms, timing, health, medications and withdrawal history | A diagnosis and an appropriate care plan |
A low symptom count does not make every drinking pattern safe. Likewise, a positive AUDIT-C screen does not automatically mean someone has AUD. U.S. guidance supports alcohol screening and brief counseling in routine health care, yet CDC data found many people reporting binge drinking received no advice to reduce it.
What do sample results look like?
The same number of drinks can lead to different symptom counts because the test measures consequences and loss of control. These examples show how to count answers without treating the total as a diagnosis.
Example 1: Five standard drinks on Friday
Someone has five standard drinks within about two hours but answers no to all 11 symptom questions. The symptom count is 0, but the episode still meets the typical binge-drinking threshold for men and exceeds it for women. Five glasses, cans or bottles are not always five standard drinks because serving sizes and alcohol strength vary. Use the standard drink calculator to check.
Example 2: Repeated attempts to cut down
Someone regularly drinks longer than planned, has tried unsuccessfully to cut down and keeps drinking despite arguments at home. That is three yes answers, supporting possible mild AUD. A clinician would still confirm the timing, context and other possible explanations.
Example 3: Morning withdrawal symptoms
Someone reports tolerance, morning shaking when alcohol wears off and drinking to relieve it. Those details raise both AUD and withdrawal concerns. The priority is medical advice before making a sudden change, even if the symptom count is not yet complete.
Call 911 for seizures, hallucinations, severe confusion, collapse, trouble breathing or inability to stay awake. In the U.S., SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) can help locate treatment, but heavy daily drinkers and anyone with past withdrawal should get medical advice before stopping suddenly.
Can my drinking be risky without AUD?
Yes. Binge drinking and heavy drinking are warning signs even when fewer than two AUD symptoms are present.
- Binge drinking generally means about four or more drinks for women or five or more for men within approximately two hours.
- Heavy drinking is eight or more drinks per week for women or 15 or more per week for men.
- About 17% of U.S. adults report binge drinking.
- Beer, wine and liquor can all contribute to risky drinking. Beverage type does not rule AUD in or out.
The CDC explains binge and heavy-drinking patterns as risk indicators, not proof of AUD. Being able to work, pay bills or avoid drinking on weekdays also does not rule out a problem. Read more about the misleading functioning alcoholic label and gray-area drinking.
What are the limits of an online alcohol test?
An online test can organize concerns, but it cannot examine you, verify the timeline or estimate withdrawal danger. It may also miss risks caused by medication interactions, pregnancy, medical conditions or drinking before driving.
- Memory and embarrassment can lead to underreporting.
- A symptom should count only once, even if it happened many times.
- Symptoms from different years cannot be combined into one 12-month score.
- Quantity thresholds and AUD symptoms answer different questions.
- A 0 or 1 result does not mean alcohol is harmless for you.
For one to two weeks, record each drink, its size, time, situation, cravings, consequences and any failed attempt to stop. Take that record to primary care or an addiction specialist and request an AUD assessment plus a withdrawal-risk assessment.
Should I stop drinking immediately?
Not without medical advice if you drink heavily, drink in the morning or have symptoms when alcohol wears off. Sudden alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures and delirium tremens.
Withdrawal can begin within hours, but there is no fixed schedule that makes home withdrawal safe. Warning symptoms include shaking, sweating, anxiety, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, a fast heartbeat and rising blood pressure. Review alcohol withdrawal symptoms, then disclose your usual quantity, last drink, morning drinking, past withdrawal, seizures, health conditions and medications to a clinician.
Call 911 for a seizure, hallucinations, severe confusion, extreme agitation, repeated vomiting, trouble breathing, collapse, inability to stay awake, severe dehydration or inability to walk safely.
What should I do after the self-test?
Use the result to start a specific conversation with a clinician, not to attach a permanent label to yourself. Care may involve outpatient support, medically supervised withdrawal, counseling, medication or mutual-support groups.
- Save your answers and write down your drinking pattern for one to two weeks.
- Book primary care or addiction care and ask for an AUD and withdrawal-risk assessment.
- Do not attempt sudden withdrawal alone if dependence may be present.
- Discuss treatment choices that fit your health, home support and past attempts.
- Arrange follow-up instead of relying on one conversation.
Brief help can make a measurable difference. A 2018 Cochrane review summarized by Healthy People 2030 found that brief primary-care interventions reduced weekly alcohol consumption by about 20 grams of ethanol compared with minimal or no intervention. A separate Cochrane review of heavy drinkers in general hospital wards found reduced consumption at 6 and 9 months, but not at one year. Follow-up matters.
If you are ready to discuss change, see safer steps for stopping alcohol. Residential rehabilitation is not required in every case, but withdrawal risk should guide the level of care.
Alcohol Self-Test FAQ
How many drinks a day makes someone an alcoholic?
No single daily number diagnoses alcohol use disorder. Diagnosis depends on symptoms such as loss of control, unsuccessful attempts to cut down, hazardous drinking, tolerance and withdrawal. Quantity still matters for health risk. Heavy drinking is defined as eight or more weekly drinks for women or 15 or more for men.
Can I have alcohol use disorder if I only drink on weekends?
Yes. AUD is based on symptoms and consequences, not daily drinking. Weekend drinking may qualify if it repeatedly involves loss of control, cravings, dangerous situations, relationship trouble or failed attempts to cut down. A weekend pattern can also involve binge drinking without meeting the symptom threshold for AUD.
Does a score of two mean I am an alcoholic?
Two yes answers within the same 12-month period support possible mild alcohol use disorder, but the result is not a diagnosis. A clinician needs to confirm the symptoms, their timing and impact, and check that another substance, medication or medical condition does not better explain them.
Can I have a drinking problem without withdrawal?
Yes. Withdrawal is only one of 11 AUD symptoms. Repeatedly drinking more than planned, failing to cut down, experiencing cravings, neglecting responsibilities or continuing despite health and relationship problems can support possible AUD even when stopping does not cause shaking, sweating or nausea.
Can I be physically dependent without realizing it?
Yes. Clues include morning shaking, sweating, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, a racing heartbeat or drinking to feel normal after alcohol wears off. Do not use an online test to judge if abrupt withdrawal is safe. Tell a clinician exactly how much and how often you drink before stopping.
What is the difference between binge drinking and alcoholism?
Binge drinking describes the amount consumed over a short period, typically four or more drinks for women or five or more for men within about two hours. Alcohol use disorder describes a pattern of symptoms and consequences. Someone can binge without AUD, have AUD without frequent binges, or experience both.
Can an alcohol self-test diagnose me?
No. A self-test can identify symptoms worth discussing, but diagnosis requires clinical evaluation. A clinician reviews the same 12-month timing, drinking pattern, consequences, withdrawal history, medications, physical and mental health, and other possible causes before recommending a level of care.
Sources
- NIAAA: Alcohol Use Disorder, From Risk to Diagnosis to Recovery
- CDC: Data on Excessive Alcohol Use
- CDC MMWR: Screening and Counseling for Unhealthy Alcohol Use
- Healthy People 2030: Effectiveness of Brief Alcohol Interventions
- Cochrane: Brief Interventions for Heavy Alcohol Users in General Hospital Wards