Drinking experiences (CAGE)
Experiences that have made you question your drinking. Answer the app’s questionnaire and see your result right away.
Source · Ewing JA. Detecting alcoholism: the CAGE questionnaire. JAMA. 1984;252(14):1905–1907. CareOps English translation of its existing Korean questionnaire. Wording, response choices and descriptive score ranges follow the CareOps version and have not been independently validated in English.
Four questions about drinking across your life
The CAGE is a four-item set of screening questions introduced by Ewing in JAMA in 1984. Its name comes from the four questions: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty and Eye-opener. It asks whether you have ever felt you should cut down, been annoyed by people criticizing your drinking, felt guilty about drinking or needed a drink first thing in the morning. You answer yes or no about any time in your life, and this page uses an English translation of the CareOps Korean version.
Reading your results
The total ranges from 0 to 4. The result screen shows 0–1 as below the screening threshold and 2 or more as a range where further assessment is suggested. Because it asks about your whole life, someone who has stopped or cut down may still score from past experiences. It does not ask how much you drink now, so the AUDIT or AUDIT-C can show current amounts. A diagnosis is made in a clinical conversation; if you scored 2 or more and these experiences are still happening, consider talking with a professional.
| Score | Result range |
|---|---|
| 0–1 | Below screening threshold |
| 2–4 | Further assessment suggested |
A question to reflect on
Next to each question you answered yes to, note roughly when it was and whether it still happens. If any of them still happen, write one line about the most recent time so the pattern is easier to see.
Frequently asked questions
- How many questions are in Drinking experiences (CAGE), and how long does it take?
- There are 4 questions, and it usually takes about 1 minute. For each question you choose one of 2 answers, from “No” to “Yes”. There are no right or wrong answers.
- Should past experiences count?
- Yes. The CAGE asks about any time in your life, so answer about past experiences too. When reading the result, you can separately think about when each one happened.
- Can four questions really tell me anything?
- The CAGE was built as a quick way to decide whether a closer look is worthwhile. It doesn’t cover how much you drink or your current pattern, so pairing it with another alcohol check gives a broader view.
- What does the ‘eye-opener’ question mean?
- It asks whether you have ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or ease a hangover after heavy drinking.
- What does my Drinking experiences (CAGE) score mean?
- On this Drinking experiences (CAGE) check, the result screen reads 0–1 below screening threshold, 2–4 further assessment suggested. A score is a starting point for reflection and conversation, not a diagnosis.
- Do I need to sign in? Are my answers saved?
- You can see your results right away without signing in. Your answers are used only for scoring and are not stored on our servers.
- Can I bring these results into a counseling session?
- Use the analysis button at the bottom of the result screen to have a short conversation with Maeumi without signing in. After the conversation, you can continue in the app. The web conversation does not transfer automatically to the app.
- Can I share my results with a friend?
- Yes. Use Share at the top right of the result screen to send a friend the check itself, or share your result as a link or story image. A result link carries your scores inside the address only; it does not include your name or account, and nothing is saved on our side.