Why Does Your Healthcare Provider Ask How Much Alcohol You Drink?

Questions about your lifestyle choices are increasingly common in medical settings, and it's important to answer them honestly.

You may have noticed that your healthcare provider asks questions about your lifestyle choices – including alcohol use. Other topics they may screen for include depression or anxiety symptoms, financial stressors that impact your access to safe housing and adequate food, and whether you use tobacco or recreational drugs. In recent years, these types of screening questions have become increasingly common in medical settings.

At first it may feel strange or off-putting to be asked personal questions about topics that don’t feel related to the medical reason for your office visit.  However, financial stressors and lifestyle choices contribute directly to poor health outcomes for many people. Your doctor wants to know more about you to better address your personal health risks and concerns over time.

Regarding alcohol, why does your healthcare provider ask how much you drink? After all, alcohol use is common. A recent Pew Research poll reports 62% of U.S. adults say they drink alcohol. Despite how common it is, many people are surprised to learn that drinking alcohol in any amount carries health risks. This is true even for those who don’t have an alcohol use disorder. According to the World Health Organization, alcohol use is associated with a higher risk of developing over 200 different health conditions including diseases of the heart and liver, and multiple types of cancer.

If you are worried about your alcohol use or want to reduce your current alcohol intake for health reasons, talk to your healthcare provider.  Your provider can help you make an informed choice about how frequently, and how much, you choose to drink. They can also connect you to other support for reducing or quitting alcohol if you’re struggling to cut down on your own. So, even though it may feel strange at first to answer questions about topics like alcohol use, an open conversation with your healthcare provider about how much you drink can help you take better control of your own health in the long run.

Sarah R. Knutson, LCMHC, LADC, is the Senior Community Health Team Behavior Clinician in the Community Health Improvement Department at Rutland Regional Medical Center.