The Michigan Alcohol Screening test, also called the MAST alcohol test, is a self-scoring test that helps determine if a person has a drinking problem.
The MAST alcohol test is one of the most widely used instruments for assessing alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST)
The original MAST was a 25-item questionnaire. Later, the MAST was downsized to a 22-item questionnaire that not unlike the original instrument, was designed to provide a quick and accurate screening tool for identifying alcohol-related problems such as alcoholism and alcohol abuse.
The MAST has been productively used in a number of diverse settings with various populations.
The following represents the 22 questions that make up the MAST.
Please answer YES or NO to the following questions:
1. Do you feel you are a normal drinker? (“normal” – drink as much or less than most other people)
YES or NO
2. Have you ever awakened the morning after some drinking the night before and found that you could not remember a part of the evening?
YES or NO
3. Does any near relative or close friend ever worry or complain about your drinking?
YES or NO
4. Can you stop drinking without difficulty after one or two drinks?
YES or NO
5. Do you ever feel guilty about your drinking?
YES or NO
6. Have you ever attended a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?
YES or NO
7. Have you ever gotten into physical fights when drinking?
YES or NO
8. Has drinking ever created problems between you and a near relative or close friend?
YES or NO
9. Has any family member or close friend gone to anyone for help about your drinking?
YES or NO
10. Have you ever lost friends because of your drinking?
YES or NO
11. Have you ever gotten into trouble at work because of drinking?
YES or NO
12. Have you ever lost a job because of drinking?
YES or NO
13. Have you ever neglected your obligations, your family, or your work for two or more days in a row because you were drinking?
YES or NO
14. Do you drink before noon fairly often?
YES or NO
15. Have you ever been told you have liver trouble such as cirrhosis?
YES or NO
16. After heavy drinking have you ever had delirium tremens (D.T.’s), severe shaking, visual or auditory (hearing) hallucinations?
YES or NO
17. Have you ever gone to anyone for help about your drinking?
YES or NO
18. Have you ever been hospitalized because of drinking?
YES or NO
19. Has your drinking ever resulted in your being hospitalized in a psychiatric ward?
YES or NO
20. Have you ever gone to any doctor, social worker, clergyman or mental health clinic for help with any emotional problem in which drinking was part of the problem?
YES or NO
21. Have you been arrested more than once for driving under the influence of alcohol?
YES or NO
22. Have you ever been arrested, even for a few hours because of other behavior while drinking?
YES or NO
(If Yes, how many times ________ )
Scoring
Please score one point if you answered the following:
1. No
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. No
5. Yes
6. Yes
7 through 22: Yes
Add up the scores and compare to the following score card:
- 0 – 2 = No apparent problem
- 3 – 5 = Early or middle problem drinker
- 6 or more; = Problem drinker
MAST Alcohol Test: Conclusion
The MAST alcohol test, is a 22 question, self-scoring test that helps evaluate
whether a person has a drinking problem. Not only this, but the MAST alcohol test is one of the most widely used instruments for determining alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
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Like a number of people who have commented on your MAST alcohol test article, I question the accuracy of this test. As others have stated, there are single questions that by themselves strongly indicate that an individual has an alcohol problem. As case in point is question 8: “Has drinking ever created problems between you and a near relative or close friend?” If drinking has created problems with your close friends, family members, or with other relatives, this clearly points to a drinking problem that needs to be addressed by an alcohol abuse or alcoholism professional.
I have visited your site a few times already for the specific reason of looking at the comments about the MAST alcohol test article posted on your site. Not unlike others who have commented, I have also uncovered a specific question that in and of itself is a strong indication that a person has had or currently has a drinking problem. I am referring to question 18: “Have you ever been hospitalized because of drinking?” If a person was hospitalized because of a drinking problem, this would usually mean that he or she either had an alcohol overdose, was intoxicated to the point of getting physically or mentally ill, or was suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. I’m sure there are other possibilities, but in all instances, it would appear that the triggering event that got the person admitted into the hospital was a fairly serious or very serious drinking problem.
I want to evaluate the MAST alcohol test from a totally different perspective than the others who have commented on this alcohol test so far.
According to the scoring legend, a score from zero to two indicates “no apparent problem.” Oh really? Let’s say that Joe Dokes took the MAST alcohol test and only got two questions “wrong.” The two question were numbers 16 and 19. I have copied these questions below, word-for-word:
16. “After heavy drinking have you ever had delirium tremens (D.T.’s), severe shaking, visual or auditory (hearing) hallucinations?”
19. “Has your drinking ever resulted in your being hospitalized in a psychiatric ward?”
Here’s a person who has had the DTs, the shakes, auditory or visual hallucinations and who was hospitalized in a psychiatric ward due to drinking. Is there any doubt in ANYONE’s mind that Joe has a serious drinking problem in spite of the fact that he scored a “2″ on the MAST alcohol test?
Something is rotten in Denmark!
Like others who have commented on your article about the MAST alcohol test, I, too, wonder about the validity of this test. Take a look at question number 4: “Can you stop drinking without difficulty after one or two drinks?” If a person answers this question honestly and in the negative, I would say that he or she clearly has a serious drinking problem. Why are 5 more “failed” answers needed to see this?
I think that some of the questions on the MAST alcohol test by themselves shows that a person has a drinking problem. For instance, question 19 reads as follows: “Has your drinking ever resulted in your being hospitalized in a psychiatric ward?” I would think that a person who was hospitalized in a psychiatric ward for his or her drinking points to a serious drinking problem.
I think I enjoyed the comments that were made regarding the MAST alcohol test more than answering the questions. A great post!
As others who have commented about the article about the MAST alcohol test, some individual questions by themselves seem to point to a severe drinking problem. Take question 21 for instance: “Have you been arrested more than once for driving under the influence of alcohol?” I would bet that people who drive under the influence is perhaps the biggest single issue that triggers the wrath of most people, the courts, judges, and groups like MADD. The point: if you have received more than one DUI, chances are very good that you have a serious drinking problem and need to get some professional help.
I was pleased to see my score when I took the MAST alcohol test. I only scored a 2! This shouldn’t come as a big surprise since I always drink responsibly.
Who wrote this alcohol test? You’ve got to be kidding–6 or more and I’m a problem drinker? What about a score of 12? Does this mean that I should admit myself to a rehab program?
I think the questions on the MAST alcohol test make sense but I don’t think any of my friends would score less than a 6. I hang out with a lot of party people who love to drink!
I think a lot of people in my generation are headed for a life of alcoholism. The MAST alcohol test on your site was kind of fun to take, but I get the sense that many of the people who make it to this site will score at least a 6 or higher. Don’t you know that we live like there’s no tomorrow?
I think there’s a few questions on the MAST alcohol test that by themselves point to a serious drinking problem. Take question two for instance, “Have you ever awakened the morning after some drinking the night before and found that you could not remember a part of the evening?” If a person has blackouts and can’t remember what he or she did the night before, this sounds pretty serious to me.
The only suggestion I have for the person who constructed the MAST alcohol test is to have a higher “top-end” score. A 6 is child’s play. The scoring needs to go up to 15 or 18 to reflect the drinking behavior of my friends!
I’m with the guy who scored a 12 on the MAST alcohol test. I scored an eleven. I think this means I’m a drunk!
I question the validity of the MAST alcohol test. A score of 6 is supposed to indicate that a person has a drinking problem, yet there are individual questions that by themselves shout out that a person has a serious alcohol problem. For example, question 16 reads as follows: “After heavy drinking have you ever had delirium tremens (D.T.’s), severe shaking, visual or auditory (hearing) hallucinations?” Come on. Isn’t it obvious to EVERYONE that if a person has the DTs, the shakes, or auditory or visual hallucinations he or she has some very serious drinking problems? Why the need for answering any other questions? This one question without question points to a severe alcohol problem that needed to be addressed yesterday.
Wow, I failed the MAST alcohol test big time! It looks like I am definitely a problem drinker at best and an alcoholic at worst. I think it’s time to go see an alcohol counselor at school.
After taking the MAST alcohol test it looks like I am in some real trouble. I have known for quite some time that I drink too much but now it seems like I am less and less in control over my drinking. I guess I am going to have to see my family doctor and see what he suggests.
There are some questions in the MAST alcohol test that don’t need any other questions to indicate that a person has a drinking problem. For instance, let’s look at question nine: “Has any family member or close friend gone to anyone for help about your drinking?” If a close friend or family member has gone to a doctor, counselor, minister, or therapist about your drinking, then there’s a real good probability that you have a drinking problem that requires professional attention.
I actually grew out of my crazy drinking days and now drink very infrequently but always responsibly. So even though I don’t have a drinking problem, I still enjoyed going through the questions on the MAST alcohol test and better yet, reading all of the great comments!
Even though I drink responsibly, I was very interested in the questions in the MAST alcohol test. Back in my earlier years there’s no doubt that this test would have strongly suggested that I had a serious drinking problem.
I have to agree with the other person who commented about your article dealing with the MAST alcohol test. After reviewing the questions, I think I have a definite drinking problem. To all the “fuddy duddies” out there who simply say to stop drinking if it causes problems in your life–well this is easier said than done. You have to admit that drinking brings some real pleasant feelings. Yes, I really enjoy drinking. How can I stop something I like so much?
After reading your article about the MAST alcohol test and going over the questions, there’s little doubt that I have a serious drinking problem. I am an alcohol abuser for sure and probably an alcoholic. I have tried to stop drinking about five times and each time, as soon as I feel a lot of stress in my life, I immediately get drunk. I will definitely have to see a professional about my drinking and get quality alcohol treatment.
How accurate is the MAST alcohol test? Just like the other people who commented on your post, I, too, probably have a major alcohol problem. The one person who said he really likes drinking hit the nail on the head. Who doesn’t like drinking with attractive and interesting people and having a blast? Drinking is fun–but when overdone, gets a person in a lot of health, relationship, and legal problems.
I think my least favorite thing in the world is the MAST alcohol test. So many of the questions applied to me I felt like I could have written this test. Needless to say, I need to go to alcohol rehab but the thought of never drinking again is really depressing.