Alcoholic Quiz: Self-Assessment Questions to Evaluate Your Drinking

An alcoholic quiz helps you honestly evaluate your drinking patterns using the same questions healthcare professionals ask.

What You'll Discover:

• Key questions used to assess alcohol problems.

• How to interpret your answers honestly.

• What different scores or patterns indicate.

• The clinical criteria used by professionals.

• Why self-assessment matters.

• What to do based on your results.

• Options if your assessment raises concerns.

Many people wonder whether their drinking has become problematic but aren't sure how to evaluate it objectively. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol use disorder affects approximately 29 million Americans, many of whom don't realize they meet criteria. A structured assessment helps you understand where you stand.

Why Self-Assessment Matters

The first thing to know is that honest self-assessment provides valuable information.

Benefits of taking a quiz:

• Objective framework for evaluation

• Moves beyond vague concerns to specific indicators

• Uses the same criteria professionals use

• Identifies patterns you may have rationalized

• Provides starting point for conversations with healthcare providers

• Reduces uncertainty about whether concern is warranted

Limitations to understand:

• Self-assessment isn't diagnosis

• Honesty is essential for accuracy

• Results should prompt action, not just analysis

• Professional evaluation provides fuller picture

Something to consider is that if you're searching for an alcoholic quiz, you likely already have some level of concern. That concern itself is meaningful information.

Core Assessment Questions

These questions reflect the clinical criteria used to diagnose alcohol use disorder. Answer honestly.

Question 1: Drinking more than intended Have you often drunk more than you meant to, or for longer than you intended?

• Never or rarely

• Sometimes

• Often or always

Question 2: Difficulty cutting back Have you wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn't?

• No

• Yes, once or twice

• Yes, multiple times

Question 3: Time spent on alcohol Do you spend a lot of time drinking, being sick from drinking, or recovering from its effects?

• No

• Sometimes

• Frequently

Question 4: Cravings Do you experience strong urges or cravings to drink?

• Rarely or never

• Sometimes

• Often

Question 5: Interference with responsibilities Has drinking interfered with your work, school, or family responsibilities?

• Never

• Once or twice

• Multiple times

Question 6: Relationship problems Have you continued drinking despite it causing problems with family or friends?

• No

• Yes, minor problems

• Yes, significant problems

Question 7: Giving up activities Have you given up or reduced activities you used to enjoy because of drinking?

• No

• Somewhat

• Significantly

Question 8: Risky situations Have you gotten into situations while drinking that increased your chance of getting hurt?

• Never

• Once or twice

• Multiple times

Question 9: Continuing despite health effects Have you continued drinking despite knowing it was causing physical or mental health problems?

• No

• Yes, despite minor effects

• Yes, despite significant effects

Question 10: Tolerance Do you need to drink more than you used to for the same effect?

• No

• Somewhat more

• Significantly more

Question 11: Withdrawal When the effects of alcohol wear off, do you experience withdrawal symptoms like shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, or anxiety?

• Never

• Sometimes

• Often

Interpreting Your Answers

The questions above reflect the DSM-5 criteria for alcohol use disorder. Interpretation:

Meeting 2 to 3 criteria = Mild alcohol use disorder You've answered "yes" or indicated concerning patterns on 2 to 3 questions.

Meeting 4 to 5 criteria = Moderate alcohol use disorder Concerning responses on 4 to 5 questions.

Meeting 6 or more criteria = Severe alcohol use disorder Concerning responses on 6 or more questions.

Even 1 to 2 concerning answers: May not meet diagnostic criteria but indicates patterns worth attention.

So, how seriously should you take these results? The short answer is that any pattern of concerning answers warrants reflection and potentially action. You don't need to meet full diagnostic criteria to benefit from making changes.

For more on these criteria, see our article on understanding alcohol use disorder.

Additional Assessment Questions

Beyond the clinical criteria, these questions provide additional insight:

Quantity questions:

• How many drinks do you have in a typical week?

• How often do you have 4+ drinks (women) or 5+ drinks (men) in one sitting?

• Has your consumption increased over the past year?

Guidelines:

• Heavy drinking: 8+ drinks/week (women) or 15+ drinks/week (men)

• Binge drinking: 4+ drinks (women) or 5+ drinks (men) in about 2 hours

Psychological questions:

• Do you think about drinking frequently throughout the day?

• Do you feel uncomfortable at events where alcohol won't be available?

• Do you use alcohol to manage stress, anxiety, or other emotions?

• Do you feel defensive when someone mentions your drinking?

Consequence questions:

• Have you done things while drinking that you regretted?

• Has your drinking affected your sleep, energy, or health?

• Have others expressed concern about your drinking?

• Have you missed work or responsibilities due to drinking or hangovers?

If it seems like multiple areas show concerning patterns, that's significant regardless of whether you technically meet clinical criteria.

The AUDIT Screening Tool

Healthcare professionals often use the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), a validated 10-question screening tool.

AUDIT scoring:

• 0 to 7: Low risk

• 8 to 15: Risky or hazardous drinking

• 16 to 19: Harmful drinking

• 20+: Possible alcohol dependence

The full AUDIT questionnaire is available through the World Health Organization and various health organizations.

All that said, any screening tool is a starting point, not a definitive answer. Results should inform action, not just categorization.

What Your Results Mean

If your results suggest concern:

This isn't a reason for shame or despair. It's information that can guide positive action. Many people with concerning drinking patterns successfully make changes, especially when they address the issue before it becomes severe.

If your results seem borderline:

Pay attention to the trend. Are things stable or getting worse over time? Borderline results that are stable may warrant monitoring. Patterns that are worsening deserve attention now.

If your results don't indicate concern:

Your drinking may be within healthy limits. However, if you had enough concern to take a quiz, periodically reassessing makes sense.

Options Based on Your Results

Low concern results:

• Monitor your drinking periodically

• Stay within recommended guidelines

• Be alert to changes in patterns

Some concerning indicators:

• Track your consumption for 2 to 4 weeks

• Set and maintain specific limits

• Consider talking to a healthcare provider

• Try reducing consumption and see how it feels

Moderate to significant concern:

• Medical evaluation is advisable

• Consider medication (naltrexone)

• Engage coaching or counseling support

• Connect with community support

High concern results:

• Medical evaluation is important

• Comprehensive treatment approach recommended

• Don't try to address alone

How Medication Can Help

If your quiz results suggest concern, medication may help.

Naltrexone: FDA-approved medication that blocks opioid receptors in the brain. When you drink with naltrexone in your system, alcohol doesn't produce the same pleasurable reward. Cravings decrease over time.

Who it helps: People at all severity levels, from those wanting to prevent progression to those with severe alcohol use disorder.

How to access: Available via telehealth for convenient, private prescriptions.

Our article on how naltrexone helps you regain control explains the medication in detail.

Taking the Next Step

An alcoholic quiz provides structure for evaluating your drinking patterns. Whether your results confirm concerns or raise new questions, they provide a starting point for informed action.

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.