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Introduction:

Alcohol use screening helps people understand patterns and potential risk from drinking. A short three question check focuses on how often, how much, and heavy occasions. Results organize risk clearly so you can make practical choices.

You answer based on the last twelve months and see a total score from zero to twelve. Bands reflect sex at birth because signals differ by group. A compact gauge and a plain summary explain what drives the result.

A realistic case might be two to four drinking days a month, three to four drinks on a typical day, and six or more drinks about monthly. That set scores five and falls in different bands for male and female, so read the band with your selection.

Screening offers guidance, not a diagnosis, and cannot confirm an alcohol use disorder. This tool provides informational estimates and does not substitute professional advice.

Technical Details:

The assessment observes three quantities over the past year: drinking frequency, typical quantity on a drinking day, and the rate of heavy episodes defined here as six or more drinks. Results summarize these responses into a single score and band for interpretation.

Each answer maps to a subscore from 0 to 4. The total score S equals the sum of the three subscores and ranges from 0–12. Larger values indicate a higher likelihood of harmful use patterns.

Severity bands are sex‑specific. For males the cut points are 0–3 Low Risk, 4–5 Moderate Risk, 6–7 High Risk, and 8–12 Possible Dependence. For females the cut points are 0–2 Low Risk, 3–4 Moderate Risk, 5–7 High Risk, and 8–12 Possible Dependence. Values near a boundary should be read with care.

Comparisons across time are meaningful when you use the same recall period and a consistent understanding of a standard drink. The screen reflects usual patterns rather than rare events.

S = s1 + s2 + s3 (s{0,1,2,3,4})
Symbols and units used in the calculation
Symbol Meaning Unit/Datatype Source
S Total score points (integer) Derived
s1 Frequency subscore 0–4 points Q1
s2 Typical‑day quantity subscore 0–4 points Q2
s3 Six‑plus episodes subscore 0–4 points Q3
Worked example. Q1 = 2, Q2 = 1, Q3 = 2
S=2+1+2=5

Interpretation: male → Moderate Risk; female → High Risk.

Severity bands and cut points
Sex at Birth Threshold Band Lower Bound Upper Bound Interpretation Action Cue
Male Low Risk 0 3 Lower likelihood signals Maintain habits
Moderate Risk 4 5 Some concerning patterns Consider small changes
High Risk 6 7 Clear risk indicators Plan reduction
Possible Dependence 8 12 Likely harmful use Seek assessment
Female Low Risk 0 2 Lower likelihood signals Maintain habits
Moderate Risk 3 4 Some concerning patterns Consider small changes
High Risk 5 7 Clear risk indicators Plan reduction
Possible Dependence 8 12 Likely harmful use Seek assessment

Validation & bounds from the package

Inputs and validation rules
Field Type Min Max Step/Pattern Error Text Placeholder
Sex at birth Select: male or female Exact match None
Responses string (r) Encoded answers ^[0-4\-]{3}$ Invalid pattern ignored
Per‑item answer Radio value 0 4 Integer only
Total score Computed 0 12 Sum of three items

I/O formats & encoding

Input and output behaviors
Input Accepted Families Output Encoding/Precision Rounding
Three item responses Predefined choices Score, band, gauge, summary Integer points Not applicable
URL parameter r Three‑char string State restore - for missing; digits 0–4 Not applicable
Answer export Clipboard, file CSV copy/download, DOCX export Filename base auditc_answers Not applicable

Units, precision & rounding policy

All values are integers in points. No decimal separator is used. There is no rounding or tie‑breaking because subscores are discrete.

Networking & storage behavior

The assessment runs entirely on the client. A charting script may be loaded from a public CDN for the gauge. Responses are not uploaded, and no server‑side storage is used.

Security considerations

Rendered HTML is assembled from fixed application strings and selected options. Untrusted HTML is not accepted. Avoid sharing encoded results if the content is sensitive.

Assumptions & limitations

  • Applies to the past 12 months; other periods are not captured.
  • Self‑report may understate or overstate true intake.
  • Heads‑up Banding depends on sex at birth; the wrong selection misclassifies risk.
  • Cut points and labels are fixed as encoded here.
  • Understanding of a “standard drink” is user‑supplied and may vary.
  • Rare events have limited effect unless heavy episodes are frequent.
  • The gauge requires the charting script; without it, visuals may be absent.
  • CSV and DOCX features rely on clipboard and download permissions.

Edge cases & error sources

  • Invalid response string pattern is ignored; state falls back to empty answers.
  • Partial answers prevent a total and band until all items are selected.
  • Changing sex at birth after answering can shift the band without changing the score.
  • Clipboard access may be blocked by browser settings, preventing CSV copy.
  • Download blockers can stop CSV or DOCX files from saving.
  • Third‑party script blockers can prevent the gauge from rendering.
  • Very small screens may hide context; use the question list to navigate.
  • Disabling JavaScript prevents the assessment from functioning.
  • Orientation changes can momentarily distort layout until the gauge resizes.
  • Manually edited URLs with unsupported characters will be ignored.

Step‑by‑Step Guide:

Alcohol use screening with a single score and band.

  1. Select Sex at birth.
  2. Start and answer three items based on the last 12 months.
  3. Review the score, band, and highlights.
  4. Optionally copy a CSV recap, download CSV, or export to DOCX.
  5. Adjust answers if needed and watch the band update.

Example. Pick “2–4 times a month,” “3–4,” and “Monthly” to see a score of 5 with sex‑specific bands.

Finish by choosing a next step that fits your context.

FAQ:

Is my data stored?

No. Processing is client‑only. Responses are not uploaded or kept on a server, and exports are generated on your device.

For privacy, avoid sharing exported files if they include sensitive details.
How accurate is the result?

Accuracy reflects the options you select. Bands use fixed cut points and differ by sex at birth, so scores near a boundary can read differently.

What formats can I save?

You can copy a CSV summary, download CSV, or export a DOCX recap of your answers and score.

Can I use it without a network?

Core scoring runs locally. If external scripts are blocked, the gauge may not appear, but your selections and band can still be reviewed.

What does it cost?

The package contains no sign‑in or payment flow. You can run the assessment and create local exports without unlocking features.

How do I screen for risky drinking quickly?

Answer all three items for the last 12 months, then read the total and band. Use the highlights to identify frequency, quantity, or heavy episodes.

What does a “borderline” result mean?

A score just inside a band should be read cautiously, especially around sex‑specific cut points. Small changes can shift the category.

Troubleshooting:

  • No gauge appears → allow the chart script and reload.
  • Copy CSV fails → enable clipboard permissions and try again.
  • Download blocked → allow downloads or disable blockers for this page.
  • Band looks wrong → confirm the sex at birth selection.
  • Progress stuck below 100% → check that all three items are answered.
  • Deep‑link not loading answers → ensure the URL pattern is exactly three characters.

Glossary:

AUDIT‑C
Three‑item alcohol use screen scored 0–12.
Standard drink
A reference amount used to compare intake.
Heavy episode
An occasion with six or more drinks.
Subscore
Per‑item points from 0 to 4.
Severity band
Category based on total and sex at birth.
Cut point
Boundary that separates bands.