There is a large volume of good quality evidence indicating that appropriate screening helps the detection and treatment of alcohol problems (see Annex 2 for a list of alerts). This evidence has consistently shown that screening using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is effective within primary care, A&E, pre- and antenatal settings. The AUDIT is more sensitive in the detection of hazardous drinking than CAGE (attempts to Cut back on drinking, being Annoyed at criticisms about drinking, feeling Guilty about drinking, and using alcohol as an Eye-opener; positive answers to two or more = probable alcohol dependence), unless CAGE is supplemented with questions on maximum.
