Addiction Alcohol Use Your Relationship With Alcohol Guide Your Relationship With Alcohol Guide Overview Where to Start Take a Quiz What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Understanding Risks Types of Alcohol Problems How Much Is Too Much? Risks of Binge Drinking What Is a Problem Drinker? Myths About Alcohol Modification Tips What Is Sober Curious? How to Be Social While Quitting Drinking How to Say No to Alcohol Sobriety Support Benefits of Recovery Tips to Stay Sober Could You Have an Alcohol Abuse Problem? If drinking is getting in the way of your happiness, take this quiz. By Buddy T Buddy T Facebook Twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 27, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE Medically reviewed by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Learn about our Medical Review Board 1. Do you sometimes drink more than you planned to drink? If I drink at all, I'll have only one or two before dinner. I will occasionally skip or delay meals to have a couple more drinks. Sometimes a 'few with friends' turns into an entire evening. I have been on benders that lasted for days. Correct Wrong 2. Have you ever tried to quit drinking and were unsuccessful? I don't want to quit, I enjoy an occasional drink. I've thought about quitting, but I just haven't gotten around to it. I have tried to control my drinking, but it hasn't worked for very long. I have tried to quit drinking many times. Correct Wrong 3. How much time do you spend each week drinking? I only drink on special occasions or only have one before dinner. I only drink on weekends, but I drink almost every weekend. I drink at least three nights a week. I drink almost daily, as soon as I get off work. Correct Wrong 4. Do you ever get an urge to drink or a craving for alcohol? No, I can take it or leave it. Sometimes if I have gone a few days without a drink, I'll get a desire to drink. If I skip a day drinking, I'll have an urge to drink the next day. I can't wait until happy hour every day. Correct Wrong 5. Do you often miss work or school or obligations at home due to drinking? I don't ever remember missing work because of drinking. I have gone in late before because I was hungover. Sometimes I call in sick when I'm really recovering from a night out. I have lost jobs due to not showing up for work. Correct Wrong 6. Has your drinking negatively affected your social or family relationships? No, I rarely drink enough to become intoxicated. Sometimes I have embarrassed myself while drinking. I prefer to hang out with people who drink as much as I do. I have lost friends or relationships due to my drinking. Correct Wrong 7. Have you given up hobbies or activities you used to enjoy? Alcohol doesn't interfere with my life. I have skipped a few trips to the gym to drink with friends. I rarely go to events where alcohol is not served. Drinking is my hobby. Correct Wrong 8. Does your drinking ever put you in dangerous situations? When I drink, it is only at home. I have had a couple of drinks at lunch before and returned to work. I have driven after drinking before, but I was not really drunk. I regularly drive home from the bar. Correct Wrong 9. Has drinking caused you any persistent health problems? I don't drink often enough for it to affect my health. On days I drink, I don't sleep through the night. I find that I don't get over morning-afters like I used to. My doctor has told me I need to quit or cut down drinking. Correct Wrong 10. Does alcohol still give you the same feeling? One drink still helps me relax. Three beers used to do it, but now it takes a six pack. I changed to liquor because wine wasn't giving me a buzz. I rarely feel intoxicated any more no matter how much I drink. Correct Wrong 11. When you go without alcohol, do you get withdrawal symptoms? I don't feel any negative effects from drinking. Sometimes I get a bit anxious, but a drink immediately calms me down. When I go a day without drinking, it is hard to get to sleep. If I don't get a drink by 5 P.M. I get the shakes. Correct Wrong Could You Have an Alcohol Abuse Problem? You got: No Problem With Alcohol Responsible Drinkers Do Not Drive Impaired. © Getty Images According to the answers you provided, it appears you may not have a drinking problem. If you drink at all, you are probably a low-risk, moderate drinker or what some call a social drinker. But, you took this quiz for a reason. Was it because you think that you may have a problem with alcohol? Has your drinking pattern changed lately and you are concerned about the change? If so, you may want to mention it to your healthcare provider and perhaps get a professional assessment. Or, you just might what to cut back on your drinking and see how that change impacts you. THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment. Share Your Results Share Pin Tweet Could You Have an Alcohol Abuse Problem? You got: Mild Alcohol Problem ljubaphoto / E+ / Getty Images Believe it or not, if you provided the same answers you gave on this quiz during a professional alcohol assessment, the evaluator would likely determine that you may have a mild alcohol use disorder. That is a long way from being diagnosed as an alcoholic, but there are some indications of problematic drinking. You may wish to seek a professional evaluation from your healtcare provider, or a trained alcohol and drug counselor, to find out if you may be at risk for developing further alcohol-related problems. In the meantime, you might want to cut back on how much, or how often you drink. THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment. Share Your Results Share Pin Tweet Could You Have an Alcohol Abuse Problem? You got: Moderate Alcohol Problem Space_Cat / iStock / Getty Images Plus Based on your answers to this quiz, you may have developed a drinking problem. Although your drinking would probably be assessed as a "moderate" alcohol use disorder by a professional alcohol evaluator, your drinking has likely started to cause problems in your daily life and is putting you at risk for more severe alcohol-related consequences. Someone who is diagnosed with a moderate alcohol use disorder is usually advised to seek some kind of help, either from a professional treatment provider, from a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous, or both. It could prevent you from developing even more serious problems in the future. THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment. Share Your Results Share Pin Tweet Could You Have an Alcohol Abuse Problem? You got: Severe Alcohol Use Disorder Prakasit Khuansuwan / EyeEm / Getty Images Based on the responses you provided to the quiz questions here, it may be no surprise to you that you have a drinking problem. If you provided the same information you gave in this quiz to a professional alcohol and drug counselor, you would more than likely be diagnosed with a severe alcohol use disorder, another name for alcoholism. It is time for you to abandon the notion you don't have a problem and admit that you need help. You may have tried to quit on your own and it did not work. If you are ready to reach out for help, there is a world of support and resources available to you. You do not have to do it alone! THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment. Share Your Results Share Pin Tweet By Buddy T Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Get Treatment for Addiction Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit