If you're asking "am I an alcoholic?", that question itself matters — people who don't have a problem with alcohol rarely worry that they do. The honest answer isn't a yes-or-no label. Alcohol problems exist on a spectrum, and clinicians no longer use the word "alcoholic" at all — they look at whether you meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder (AUD), and how many.
Below is a free, private, 2-minute self-check based on the same 11 criteria clinicians use (from the DSM-5), plus a plain-English look at the warning signs and what actually counts as "too much." Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere. This is a starting point for reflection — not a diagnosis.
If you drink daily or heavily, do not stop suddenly on your own — alcohol withdrawal can be medically dangerous. Talk to a doctor first. For free, confidential guidance any time, call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). In a crisis, call or text 988.
The 2-minute self-check
In the past 12 months, how many of these have been true for you? Check each one that applies, then see your result. Be honest — no one else sees this.
You checked of 11 criteria.
Your answers don't point to an alcohol use disorder right now.
That's good news. If you're still here because something feels off, trust that instinct — cutting back never hurts, and you can always re-check after an honest few weeks.
Your answers line up with a mild alcohol use disorder.
This is the easiest stage to turn around, and most people never realize they're here. Small changes now — and a conversation with a doctor or counselor — can keep it from growing.
Your answers line up with a moderate alcohol use disorder.
That can be a lot to take in — and it also means there is effective, well-established treatment for exactly this. People with these same answers recover all the time. A professional can help you choose the right next step.
Your answers line up with a severe alcohol use disorder.
This is hard to read, and naming it took courage. It is also one of the most treatable points to start from, because the path is clear. Many, many people with these exact answers go on to full recovery.
This is a self-check, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified professional can diagnose AUD. If you drink daily or heavily, don't quit cold turkey — withdrawal can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor or call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357. When you're ready, you can find a verified treatment center or take our guide on how to get help.
The check above mirrors how clinicians actually assess drinking. Under the DSM-5 (the standard diagnostic manual), meeting 2 or more of these 11 criteria in a year indicates an alcohol use disorder, per the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
What your score means
0–1 criteria: no disorder indicated
Your drinking doesn't meet the threshold for AUD right now. That doesn't mean alcohol is risk-free — it means this isn't a disorder. If you have any concern, scaling back is always reasonable.
2–3 criteria: mild AUD
A mild alcohol use disorder is real but very workable. This is the stage where brief counseling, cutting back, or a check-in with your doctor tends to work best — before tolerance and routine deepen.
4–5 criteria: moderate AUD
A moderate disorder usually benefits from structured help — outpatient counseling, medication for AUD, or an intensive outpatient program. You don't have to hit "rock bottom" to get treatment; earlier is easier.
6+ criteria: severe AUD
A severe disorder (what people used to call "alcoholism") often involves physical dependence. Because withdrawal can be dangerous, the safest first step is usually medically supervised detox, followed by inpatient or intensive outpatient care.
How much alcohol is "too much"?
What counts as one "standard drink"
In the U.S., one standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol — roughly a 12 oz beer (5%), a 5 oz glass of wine (12%), or a 1.5 oz shot of liquor (40%), according to the NIAAA. Many real-world pours are larger than one standard drink, which is why people often underestimate.
Low-risk drinking limits
NIAAA defines low-risk limits as no more than 4 drinks in a day and 14 per week for men, and 3 in a day and 7 per week for women. "Low-risk" is not "no-risk" — but staying under these reduces the odds of developing problems.
Binge and heavy drinking
Binge drinking means reaching a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 — typically 4+ drinks for women or 5+ for men in about 2 hours. Heavy drinking is 4+ drinks any day or 8+ per week for women, and 5+ any day or 15+ per week for men. Regular binge or heavy drinking sharply raises the risk of AUD.
Is any amount truly "safe"?
No level of drinking is completely without risk, and even moderate use is linked to health harms by the CDC. The point of these numbers isn't a pass/fail line — it's a mirror to compare against your own pattern honestly.
Signs of alcoholism (alcohol use disorder)
Behavioral signs
Drinking alone or in secret, hiding bottles, lying about how much you drink, needing alcohol to relax or socialize, planning your day around drinking, irritability when you can't drink, and repeated failed attempts to cut back. Watch, too, for the broader warning signs of addiction, which overlap.
Physical signs
Common physical signs include tolerance (needing more for the same effect), withdrawal (shakes, sweating, nausea, anxiety when not drinking), poor sleep, weight changes, frequent flushed or broken skin and a red face, and memory blackouts. Withdrawal symptoms in particular are a red flag for physical dependence.
Signs of alcoholism in men
Men are statistically more likely to drink in high amounts and to engage in risky behavior while drinking. Signs often show up as escalating quantity, drinking to cope with stress or emotions, and conflict at work or home — sometimes masked because heavy male drinking is socially normalized.
Signs of alcoholism in women
Women tend to develop alcohol-related health problems faster and at lower amounts than men, so the same warning signs can appear with less visible drinking. Drinking in secret, using alcohol for anxiety or sleep, and physical effects appearing "early" are common patterns.
The "high-functioning alcoholic"
Many people with AUD hold down jobs, raise families, and look fine from the outside — the so-called high-functioning alcoholic. Functioning is not the same as being healthy or in control. If you meet several of the criteria above but your life still "works," that doesn't mean you're safe; it often means the problem is being managed at a quiet cost — to sleep, health, mood, and relationships — and that the disorder can progress. The self-check measures the criteria, not how well you're hiding them.
Alcohol use disorder is a spectrum — and it's treatable
AUD is a medical condition, not a moral failing or a willpower problem. It ranges from mild to severe, and effective treatments exist at every level — from brief counseling and FDA-approved medications to outpatient and residential programs. Recovery is the rule, not the exception, especially when help starts early. Learn what the road looks like in our guide to the stages of recovery.
What to do next
If your result was mild
Consider a "dry" few weeks to reset, track your drinks honestly, and talk with your primary-care doctor — brief interventions are surprisingly effective at this stage. Learn more about alcohol use disorder.
If your result was moderate or severe
Talk to a professional about the right level of care, and do not stop drinking abruptly on your own if you drink heavily or daily — alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures and can be life-threatening. Review the alcohol withdrawal timeline and consider medical detox, then outpatient or residential care — compare inpatient vs. outpatient and check how to pay for treatment. If a mental-health condition is also present, look into dual-diagnosis treatment.
If you're worried about someone else
See our guides on how to help an alcoholic and how to stage an intervention. Worried about drugs rather than alcohol? Try our "Am I a drug addict?" self-check. You can also search verified treatment centers and check insurance coverage in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It's a private self-check based on the DSM-5 criteria clinicians use, but only a qualified professional can diagnose an alcohol use disorder. Use your result as a conversation-starter with a doctor, not a final verdict.
How many drinks a week makes you an alcoholic?
There's no single number. AUD is defined by the 11 behavioral and physical criteria above, not by a drink count. That said, NIAAA considers more than 14 drinks a week for men or 7 for women to be above low-risk limits.
What's the difference between a heavy drinker and an alcoholic?
Heavy drinking describes a quantity; alcohol use disorder describes loss of control and harm. Many heavy drinkers meet AUD criteria, but the diagnosis depends on the 11 criteria — craving, inability to cut down, withdrawal, and so on — not on volume alone.
Can you be an alcoholic and still function?
Yes. "High-functioning" alcohol use disorder is common — holding a job and meeting obligations doesn't rule out a disorder. Functioning often masks a problem that's still progressing underneath.
What are the first signs of alcoholism?
Early signs include drinking more or longer than intended, needing more to feel the effect (tolerance), unsuccessful attempts to cut down, and craving. These often appear long before any outward "rock bottom."
Is it safe to stop drinking on my own?
If you drink lightly, cutting back on your own is usually fine. But if you drink heavily or daily, quitting abruptly can trigger dangerous withdrawal, including seizures. Talk to a doctor first and consider medically supervised detox.
Do I have to be an "alcoholic" to get help?
No. You don't need any label or a "severe enough" problem to deserve support. Brief counseling and cutting back help at every level, and the earlier you act, the easier change tends to be.
Where can I get help right now?
Call SAMHSA's free, confidential National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), 24/7 in English and Spanish. In a crisis, call or text 988. To find treatment, search verified centers near you.
Sources & further reading
This self-assessment is educational and is not a diagnosis or medical advice. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening; consult a licensed clinician before making changes if you drink heavily. If you or someone else is in danger, call 911 or 988.