Check Your Drinking. Make a Plan to Drink Less.

Alcohol Screening Tool

Welcome!

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people on gauge or scale with woman holding the gauge needleDrinking too much alcohol can be harmful. Everyone can benefit from drinking less alcohol or not drinking at all. This tool checks your drinking and can give advice. If you want to drink less, it can also help you build a plan to make healthier choices.

people on gauge or scale with woman holding the gauge needle

Some questions may be sensitive. Any information you provide is for your personal use only. Your information will not be stored or shared.

This tool is for adults 18 years or older. It is not intended for medical diagnosis or treatment.

Estimated Completion Time: 5 - 10 mins

Let’s get started!

Don’t use your browser's back button. Instead, use the "Previous" and "Next" buttons to navigate through the tool.


How old are you?
Have you ever been treated for an alcohol problem or told by a healthcare provider that you have an alcohol use disorder?
Are you pregnant?
What is your current gender?

 

Definition of a standard drink

Thank you. Before answering questions about your alcohol use, let’s go over how to count your drinks.

One standard drink is equivalent to a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a drink with one shot of liquor. If your drinks are larger or stronger, count them as more than one drink.

Graphic outlining the standard drink.

Alcohol by volume (ABV) refers to the strength of the alcoholic beverage.

For the following questions, please think about your drinking in the past year.

How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?
How often do you have 4 or more drinks on one occasion?

Drinking less is better for your health than drinking more. For individuals who do not drink alcohol, it is not recommended they start drinking for any reason.

Nonpregnant adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting consumption to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed.

Drinking above these limits increases the risk for injuries and multiple health problems such as:

  • Cancer
  • Liver disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Stroke, heart, and gastrointestinal problems
  • Mental health issues
  • Poor sleep.

There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant and there is no safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy. All types of alcohol can be harmful, including all wines and beer. Do not drink if you are pregnant, might be pregnant, or are trying to get pregnant.

Most U.S. adults of legal drinking age follow the recommended limits. If this surprises you, keep in mind that we tend to spend time with people who drink similar amounts.

graphic showing 3 in 6 people do not drink; 1 in 6 people drink in moderation; and 2 in 6 people exceed moderate drinking.

You should also avoid alcohol if you are taking medications that interact with alcohol, if you have a health condition made worse by drinking, or you plan to drive a vehicle or operate machinery.

Drinking less can decrease your risks!

Thank you for using this tool. Please also visit the following sites to learn more about having a healthy and safe pregnancy.

In the past 6 months, have you thought about drinking less or not drinking at all?
Would you like to drink less?
How ready are you to drink less?

Let’s create a personalized change plan that you can print or save.

Drinking too much impacts your mind, your body, and your life. The effects of drinking may also be felt by others.


What motivates you to drink less or stop drinking? (Select all that apply or write in your own reason.)
Other

Those are good reasons to drink less or stop drinking alcohol altogether. It isn’t always easy to make a change.


What are some barriers or roadblocks you face in drinking less alcohol? (Select all that apply or write in your own barrier.)
Other*
* If you don’t select at least one barrier from the list, your plan will not include tips for overcoming the barriers you face.

Setting a goal to limit how often you will drink and the number of drinks you will have can start you on the path to drinking less.


How many fewer drinks would you like to have per week or per drinking occasion?
 

Thank you for visiting this site. This tool is intended for adults 18 years or older. Please talk to your healthcare provider or another trusted adult if you have concerns about your drinking.

Thank you for visiting this site. This tool is not designed to help people who have a history of alcohol use disorder. Please contact your personal healthcare provider if you would like to talk with someone about your drinking. Other resources include SAMHSA’s Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator, NIAAA's Alcohol Treatment Navigator, and the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service available at 1-800-662-HELP.

Thank you for using this tool. Please also visit the following sites to learn more about having a healthy and safe pregnancy.

 

Please consult your healthcare provider if you or someone you know needs help with a drinking problem. Other resources include SAMHSA’s Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator, NIAAA's Alcohol Treatment Navigator, and the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service available at 1-800-662-HELP. These resources can help you find treatment programs in your community and someone to speak with about an alcohol problem.