Alcohol Moderation Assessment
Can I Keep Drinking?
Co-Founder Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC developed the Alcohol Moderation Assessment to help people answer one of the most important questions: Can I keep drinking?
More than fifty years of research shows that most people who experience problems with alcohol can, under the right conditions, learn to drink in moderation. This assessment is designed to help you determine whether moderation is a realistic option for you, or whether abstinence may be the safer choice.
At Insight Recovery Centers, we believe in meeting you where you are. The Assessment is a starting point that creates clarity about your drinking and your risks. It can also guide the next steps in building an Alcohol Moderation Plan or deciding if abstinence would better support your health and goals. No matter your score, you are not left on your own. Our team uses the results as a framework for treatment planning, collaboration, and support.
Take the Alcohol Moderation Assessment below to see where you stand.
Alcohol Moderation Assessment
Alcohol Moderation Assessment - New (MOVED TO QSM)
Scoring The Alcohol Moderation Assessment
- For questions one through thirteen, give yourself one point for any “yes” answers.
POINTS: __________ - For questions fourteen to seventeen, give yourself two points for any “yes” answers.
POINTS: __________ - For questions eighteen to twenty, subtract a point for any “yes” answers.
POINTS: __________
Total your points. The amount reflects your likelihood of being able to successfully practice alcohol moderation.
| < 0 Points | Good |
| 1 – 5 Points | Fair |
| 6 – 10 Points | Poor |
| > 11 Points | Unlike |
Copyright © by Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC
All rights reserved. No part of this handout may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
What Your Results Mean
- 0 Points – Good: Moderation may be a safe and realistic option.
- 1–5 Points – Fair: Moderation could be possible, but with clinical oversight and strong supports.
- 6–10 Points – Poor: Moderation is unlikely to be safe; abstinence may be the better path.
- 11+ Points – Unlikely: Abstinence is strongly recommended AM Assmt (2024)
If your score is greater than 3 points, you may meet criteria for a substance use disorder. In that case, we recommend reaching out for professional evaluation and support.
Why This Matters
Your score is not a label. It is a guide. The Alcohol Moderation Assessment helps you take an honest look at your relationship with alcohol and points toward the healthiest next step. Whether that step is moderation or abstinence, our role is to provide structure, accountability, and expert care so that change is possible and sustainable.
Call 703-214-9499 or contact us online to discuss your results with an experienced counselor.