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CAGE Questionnaire Calculator (Alcohol Screening)

Score the CAGE alcohol questionnaire — Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener — 0 to 4, where 2 or more yes answers is clinically significant and calls for a fuller alcohol assessment.

C — Have you ever felt you ought to cut down on your drinking?

A — Have people annoyed you by criticising your drinking?

G — Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?

E — Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover (eye-opener)?

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How it works

CAGE = number of yes answers to the four questions (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener); 0–4. A score of 2 or more is clinically significant.

The CAGE questionnaire (Ewing, 1984) is a four-question screen for alcohol use disorder that takes under a minute. Each yes scores 1; at the usual cut-off of 2 it has good sensitivity and specificity for alcohol dependence in clinical settings, while some clinicians use 1 for higher sensitivity. CAGE asks about lifetime problems and is less good at finding risky drinking without dependence, for which the AUDIT or AUDIT-C is preferred.

Worked example

A patient says yes to having felt they should cut down and to being annoyed by criticism, and no to guilt and to morning drinking: CAGE = 2 / 4 — clinically significant, so a fuller alcohol assessment is advised.

Sources: Ewing JA. Detecting alcoholism: the CAGE questionnaire. JAMA 1984 · NIAAA — Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much: screening instruments

Frequently asked questions

What does a CAGE score of 2 mean?

Two or more yes answers is clinically significant and suggests a possible alcohol use disorder. It is a screen, so it should lead to a fuller assessment such as the AUDIT and a conversation about drinking.

Is one yes answer a concern?

One yes is below the usual cut-off, but a yes to the eye-opener question alone suggests dependence and deserves a closer look. In higher-risk groups some clinicians treat any yes as positive.

What do the letters CAGE stand for?

Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty and Eye-opener — one keyword from each question.

CAGE or AUDIT — which is better?

CAGE is quicker and good for dependence. The 10-item AUDIT also detects hazardous and harmful drinking before dependence develops, so it is preferred for general screening.

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A screening questionnaire, not a diagnosis — only a qualified clinician can diagnose. If you or someone you care for is in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, contact emergency services or a crisis line now.