If alcohol abuse is suspected, the CAGE questionnaire should be asked

• C = Have you felt the need to Cut down on your drinking?

• A = Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?

• G = Have you ever felt Guilty about your drinking?

• E = Have you ever taken a morning «Eye-opener»?

Four affirmative responses are pathognomonic for alcoholism. Two or three affirmative answers create a high level of suspicion. If all answers are negative, a diagnosis of alcoholism can generally be excluded