The Results of my AUDIT Test (Figured I Post Mine Since I Think All Our Leaders Should Post Theirs, Too)

So, I had to laugh at my results. I have not consumed any alcohol since I was 18. (And although I did get into bars in the United States before I turned 21, I have never drank in an American bar. I drank when I was 18 in England, where it was legal at 18.) I do purchase alcohol annually for Christmas desserts I make--although I do not consume it or them, which led to one doctor being concerned because he did not phrase the question in a way that meant consumption, and I answered it honestly. Apparently, it's a red flag to buy several liters of alcohol around Christmas. However, he seemed to believe I actually consumed the alcohol when I do not consume the alcohol or the desserts I make that have alcohol in them--he totally did not believe me when I tried to explain. (I wonder what he would have thought if he knew I bought a bottle of Everclear to perform a science experiment during VBS at church? I dumped the leftovers in my gas tank, so technically I went through the entire bottle in three hours--although I didn't drink a drop.) 

Anyway, my current consumption level is zero and has been for decades. However, again, to answer the AUDIT test honestly, when I did drink (solely for less than a month when I was 18 and in England), I drank 3-4 "servings" per setting and I certainly had more than six servings in one setting at one time. I did so around older, more seasoned drinkers, who were responsible, put up with my immaturity,, kept me from doing anything stupid and even distracted me to keep me from drinking more when they thought I was hitting it a bit hard--to them, I am forever grateful. 

This was my result from the AUDIT test:

Now, you may be thinking, "Why did she laugh?" because I am a "low risk." I laugh because (1) I have a dark sense of humor and (2) the bold clearly says "It is important that you do not increase your present consumption." My "present" consumption is 0 drinks in over 3 decades. I have absolutely no plans to start drinking at any time in my future, but I find it funny that this test warns me against doing so. At the same time, I totally agree with it--I remember liking the taste of hard alcohol. 

People can drink responsibly, but young people rarely figure that out. Because of my own experiences, I am a firm advocate of keeping track of just how much your 20-something kids are drinking and encouraging those who can drink responsibly to demonstrate that ability in front of them. I had good friends. My husband had his mother, who is German and who treats alcohol differently than Americans do. Neither of us were around enablers who babied us through our hangovers.

It is also important that people take the test and get help if the test says they need it. You can take it here.