One method of evaluating whether you may benefit from making changes to your alcohol use is to compare your usual drinking practices with those listed below. Review the following statements, or print them out and circle the response which best applies to you:
- I have more than 14 alcoholic drinks per week (assigned male at birth) or 7 alcoholic drinks (assigned female at birth or anyone over age 65) per week. A "drink" is 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of table wine, 1.5 ounces of liquor or 12 ounces of wine cooler. (True/ False)
- I have more than 2 alcoholic drinks (assigned male at birth) or 1 alcoholic drink (assigned female at birth or anyone over age 65) on any day. (True/ False)
- I sometimes drink alcohol and drive. (True/ False)
- I have more than one alcoholic drink per hour. (True/ False)
- I drink alcohol every day. (True/ False)
- I drink alcohol to become high, buzzed or intoxicated. (True/ False)
- I drink alcohol and take medication. (True/ False)
- I drink alcohol before, during or after physical or sports activities. (True/ False)
- I drink alcohol to help deal with unpleasant feelings or stress. (True/ False)
- Most of my free time involves drinking alcohol. (True/ False)
If you answered true to even one statement, you may want to consider cutting back or quitting drinking altogether. The more questions to which you answered "True," the higher your risk of developing serious problems. You are unlikely to develop alcohol-related consequences if you answered "False" to all the statements.