Alcohol Self Assessment Tool

Our alcohol self assessment tool is designed for anyone looking to take stock of their drinking and perhaps identify manageable goals for change.

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Score:

Please provide us with the following details:

Your gender:

Please be aware that this test is for those over 18 years of age only. All information is anonymous and stored in accordance with data protection legislation.

How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

How many standard drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?

One standard drink contains 10g of pure alcohol. That is the equivalent of a half-pint of beer, a small glass of wine, or a pub measure of a spirit drink.

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How often have you had 6 or more standard drinks on a single occasion in the last year?

How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?

How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of your drinking?

How often during the last year have you needed an alcoholic drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?

How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or regret after drinking?

How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?

Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?

Has a relative or friend or a doctor or another health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?

What does this mean?

You are doing a great job managing your alcohol intake. In order to keep minimising the risk of alcohol related issues please review some of the recommended guidelines below. Adopting some of our top tips will ensure you can continue to enjoy alcohol responsibly.


Steps you can take

Below you will find the weekly low risk guidelines for alcohol use as well as some tips to maintain your positive efforts.


Weekly low-risk alcohol guidelines

The recommended weekly low-risk alcohol guidelines are less than:

11 standard drinks for women

17 standard drinks for men


Top Tips

  • Drinks should be spread out over the week.
  • Have 2 to 3 alcohol-free days per week. Drink no more than 6 standard drinks on any one occasion.
  • Try drinking later in the evening to reduce the amount you drink in one sitting.

What is in a standard drink

In Ireland a standard drink has about 10 grams of pure alcohol. In the UK a standard drink, also called a unit of alcohol, has about 8 grams of pure alcohol.

Some examples of a standard drink in Ireland are:

A pub measure of spirits (35.5ml)

A small glass of wine (12.5% volume)

A half pint of normal beer

A bottle of 12.5% alcohol wine has about seven standard drinks.


Contact Us

If you would like more information on where to get supports, please see a list of organizations here, alternatively you can get in contact with The HSE Alcohol Helpline on 1800 459 459 or email helpline@hse.ie.




What does this mean?

The result of your self assessment suggests that you are a hazardous drinker. This means that you are drinking above the recommended guidelines and may be at an increased risk of alcohol related harm.


Steps you can take

As a first step we encourage you to develop a manageable goal for yourself. This can include things such as:

  • Introducing 2 or more alcohol free days in a week
  • Alternating alcohol drinks with water or low calorie juice to reduce your intake
  • Drink later in the day to reduce your consumption

Contact Us

If you would like more information on where to get supports, please see a list of organizations here, alternatively you can get in contact with The HSE Alcohol Helpline on 1800 459 459 or email helpline@hse.ie.




What does this mean?

The result of your self assessment suggests that you are drinking in a very harmful way which may be impacting your physical, mental and emotional health. Being in this category can also put you at greater risk of developing an alcohol dependency which means you might need alcohol to function throughout the day and will be unable to stop or cut down your drinking without expert advice.


Don’t Panic, Steps You Can Take Today!

As a first step we would encourage you to make contact with us so we can discuss your goals and help you devise a plan to match your pace of change. Our specialist team will chat with you about your drinking and help you identify some steps you can take to protect your health and hopefully over time change the way you feel and think about alcohol.


Contact Us

If you would like more information on where to get supports, please see a list of organizations here, alternatively you can get in contact with The HSE Alcohol Helpline on 1800 459 459 or email helpline@hse.ie.




What does this mean?

Your score suggests that you are drinking at very high-risk levels. This level of drinking can result in significant health problems and have a significant impact on your physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing. This score suggests the presence of alcohol dependency which means you might need alcohol to function throughout the day and may require medical advice to support you in cutting down.


Don’t Panic, Steps You Can Take Today!

As a first step we would encourage you to make contact with us so we can discuss your goals and help you devise a plan to match your pace of change. Our specialist team will chat with you about your drinking and help you identify some steps you can take to protect your health and hopefully over time change the way you feel and think about alcohol.

Given your answers we would strongly advise you contact a specialist service or your GP for support. We are here to help.


Important Advice

Please do not stop drinking altogether before speaking to a medical professional such as your GP. Stopping drinking when a dependence is present can result in seizures which may be extremely harmful to your health. If you need further advice or are concerned in relation to this please contact the HSE Alcohol Helpline on 1800 459 459 or email helpline@hse.ie or contact one of the services listed here.


Contact Us

If you would like more information on where to get supports, please see a list of organizations here, alternatively you can get in contact with The HSE Alcohol Helpline on 1800 459 459 or email helpline@hse.ie.