A 2 minute assessment to get a personalized mental health or alcohol recovery plan.
An alcohol test online provides a quick, private way to evaluate whether your drinking patterns warrant concern or action.
What You'll Discover:
• Types of online alcohol assessments available.
• Validated screening tools you can use.
• How to interpret your results.
• Limitations of online testing.
• What to do based on your results.
• Next steps if your test suggests concern.
Many people wonder whether their drinking is normal or problematic but hesitate to ask a doctor. Online alcohol tests provide a private first step. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, brief screening tools can effectively identify people who may have alcohol use disorder. Several validated assessments are available online for free.
Types of Online Alcohol Assessments
The first thing to know is that several types of online alcohol tests exist.
Validated screening tools:
• AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test)
• CAGE questionnaire
• AUDIT-C (abbreviated version)
• MAST (Michigan Alcohol Screening Test)
These are used by healthcare professionals and have been validated through research.
Informal quizzes:
• Website-based questionnaires
• Magazine-style assessments
• Quick self-check tools
• App-based check-ins
These vary in quality and may not be scientifically validated.
Consumption calculators:
• Standard drink counters
• Weekly unit trackers
• BAC estimators
• Comparison to guidelines
These focus on quantity rather than patterns or consequences.
Something to consider is that validated tools provide more reliable results than informal quizzes.
The AUDIT Screening Tool
The AUDIT is the most widely used validated screening tool.
What it is: Developed by the World Health Organization, the AUDIT consists of 10 questions covering:
• Alcohol consumption frequency and quantity
• Drinking behavior patterns
• Alcohol-related problems
How it's scored: Each question receives 0 to 4 points. Total scores range from 0 to 40.
Interpretation:
• 0 to 7: Low risk
• 8 to 15: Risky or hazardous drinking
• 16 to 19: High-risk or harmful drinking
• 20+: Possible alcohol dependence
Where to take it: The AUDIT is available through:
• World Health Organization resources
• Healthcare organization websites
• NIAAA resources
• Various health websites
For that reason, the AUDIT provides a reliable starting point for self-assessment.
The CAGE Questionnaire
The CAGE is a brief, four-question screening tool.
The questions:
Scoring: Two or more "yes" answers suggest possible alcohol problems.
Strengths and limitations:
• Very brief and easy to remember
• Good for identifying dependence
• May miss heavy drinkers without dependence symptoms
• Best used as initial screen
Other Screening Tools
Additional validated tools exist.
AUDIT-C: A shortened three-question version of the AUDIT focusing on consumption. Scores of 4 or more (men) or 3 or more (women) suggest hazardous drinking.
MAST: The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test is a 22-question assessment focusing on alcohol-related consequences. Scores above 5 suggest alcohol problems.
DAST: Though focused on drugs rather than alcohol specifically, sometimes used alongside alcohol screens.
DSM-5 criteria: Questions based on the 11 diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder. Meeting 2 or more criteria indicates alcohol use disorder of varying severity.
For more detail on DSM-5 criteria, see our article on understanding alcohol use disorder.
How to Interpret Results
Understanding what your results mean helps you take appropriate action.
Low-risk results: Your drinking appears within safe limits. Continue monitoring if you were concerned enough to take a test.
Moderate-risk results: Your drinking patterns warrant attention. Consider reducing consumption, tracking more carefully, or speaking with a healthcare provider.
High-risk results: Your drinking likely meets criteria for hazardous use or alcohol use disorder. Professional evaluation and treatment options should be considered.
Important notes:
• Screening tools are not diagnostic
• Professional evaluation provides fuller picture
• Honesty is essential for accuracy
• Results should prompt action, not just analysis
All that said, if you're concerned enough to search for an alcohol test, that concern itself is meaningful information.
Limitations of Online Testing
Online tests have inherent limitations.
What online tests cannot do:
• Provide a diagnosis
• Assess your physical health
• Account for individual circumstances
• Replace professional evaluation
• Prescribe treatment
Factors affecting accuracy:
• Depends on honest answering
• May not capture full complexity
• Cannot assess medical factors
• Missing clinical observation
When to seek professional evaluation:
• Results suggest moderate to high risk
• You're concerned despite low-risk results
• Physical health symptoms present
• You want to make changes and need help
If it seems like online tests provide limited information, that's correct. They're screening tools, not comprehensive evaluations.
What to Do Based on Results
Different results suggest different actions.
For low-risk results:
• Continue monitoring drinking
• Stay aware of guidelines
• Retest periodically if concerned
For moderate-risk results:
• Track consumption more carefully
• Set and maintain limits
• Consider speaking with healthcare provider
• Explore resources and support options
For high-risk results:
• Medical evaluation recommended
• Consider treatment options
• Explore medication (naltrexone)
• Connect with support resources
Regardless of results: If you're concerned about your drinking, that concern deserves attention. Even low-risk results don't negate personal concerns or desire for change.
Treatment Options
If your online test suggests concern, treatment options exist.
Medication: Naltrexone is FDA-approved for alcohol use disorder. It works by blocking opioid receptors, reducing cravings and the rewarding effects of alcohol. It's taken as a daily 50mg tablet and is available through telehealth for convenient, private access.
Telehealth evaluation: Video consultations with physicians who specialize in alcohol problems can provide:
• Professional assessment
• Prescriptions if appropriate
• Ongoing support
• Complete privacy
Counseling: Therapy addresses underlying patterns and builds coping skills.
Support groups: AA, SMART Recovery, and online communities provide peer support.
Our article on how naltrexone helps you regain control explains medication options in detail.
Taking the Next Step
Online alcohol tests provide a private, accessible starting point for evaluating your drinking. Validated tools like the AUDIT and CAGE offer reliable screening, though they don't replace professional evaluation. Whatever your results, if you're concerned about your drinking, that concern deserves attention.
For a comprehensive assessment that can lead directly to treatment, take the online Alcohol Use Assessment to see if naltrexone and the Choose Your Horizon program might be right for you.
