Screening for Hazardous Drinking Among German University Students: Criterion Validity and Cut-Off Scores for the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption

Background: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the short version AUDIT-C are established instruments in screening for hazardous drinking. Objective: The aim of this study was the validation and evaluation of cut-off-values in student samples of German universities. Method: Analyses were based on samples of one university of applied sciences (n = 490, 60% male) and three universities (n = 1,456, 47% male). The external criterion of > 60 or > 120 g ethanol (women/men, respectively) and > 0 risky single-occasion drinking were measured using an adaptation of the Daily Drinking Questionnaire. Additionally, alcohol-related problems were assessed. Results: The prevalence of hazardous drinking during the last month was 53% and 56%, respectively, and was associated with significantly more alcohol-related problems. The quality in the detection of hazardous drinking of both screenings was good to excellent. Overall, the best AUDIT cut-off was = 5 points, the AUDIT-C cut-off = 4 points, and in each case = 4 for women and = 5 for men. Conclusion: According to its characteristics, the AUDIT-C can be recommended as short and valid screening for hazardous drinking in students of German universities.