Home
Psychological tests
Alcohol Consumption Motivation Questionnaire

Alcohol Consumption Motivation Questionnaire Test

Understand what drives a man’s drinking in about 9 minutes, from stress relief to social motives to coping. Get clear insights fast to guide targeted support and more focused care.

Start Online Test

Questions: 459 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

27,864 views

3,461 completion

2,888 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

6/15

Self-Harm (SH)

Assesses the extent to which alcohol use is driven by self-destructive motives such as protest, loss of life meaning, and hostility toward self or others.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 6 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting some presence of self-destructive motives associated with alcohol use, though not strongly expressed.

example score

6/15

Addictive Motives (AM)

Measures the strength of addictive motives for alcohol use, reflecting craving and a developing need to drink.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 6 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting some presence of craving-related drinking motives without indicating a strongly persistent need.

example score

7/15

Hangover Relief (HR)

Measures the extent to which alcohol use is motivated by relieving hangover or withdrawal-like discomfort and improving immediate well-being.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 7 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting alcohol is sometimes used to reduce unpleasant aftereffects or feel better, but this motive is not dominant.

example score

12/15

Hyperactivation (H)

This scale measures the extent to which alcohol is used to boost activation, overcome boredom, and increase perceived effectiveness of actions.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 12 falls in the High range, suggesting alcohol is often associated with seeking stimulation, escaping boredom, or feeling more effective.

example score

5/15

Anxiolytic Motives (AM)

Measures the extent to which alcohol use is motivated by reducing negative emotions such as anxiety, tension, or fear.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 5 falls in the Low range, suggesting alcohol is not a prominent strategy for managing negative emotions in this profile.

example score

11/15

Hedonistic Motives (HM)

Measures the extent to which alcohol use is motivated by seeking pleasure, enjoyment, and euphoria.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 11 falls in the High range, suggesting a pronounced tendency to view alcohol as a way to obtain pleasurable sensations.

example score

9/15

Pseudocultural Motives (PM)

Measures the extent to which alcohol use is motivated by aligning with social norms and fitting into a group’s alcohol-related values.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 9 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting alcohol may sometimes be used to support social belonging or match the expectations of a desired group.

example score

7/15

Submissive Motives (SM)

Measures the extent to which alcohol use is driven by yielding to social or group pressure and conforming to others' opinions.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 7 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting social pressure and conformity sometimes influence your alcohol consumption decisions.

example score

9/15

Traditional (T)

Measures the extent to which alcohol consumption is driven by culturally common traditions and social norms.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 10: Moderate | 11 – 15: High

A score of 9 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting that traditions and social expectations play a noticeable but not dominant role in the motivation to drink.

example score

48/135

Overall Motivational Tension (OMT)

Measures the overall intensity of motives driving alcohol consumption across different situations.

Low tension

High tension

Very high tension

0 – 34: Low tension | 35 – 50: High tension | 51 – 135: Very high tension

A score of 48 falls in the High tension range, indicating a pronounced overall motivational pull toward alcohol compared with lower scores.

Start Online Test

just completed the test

DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Men in treatment programs

41%OF USERS

Men in rehab, outpatient care, or counseling take it to clarify what drives their drinking and focus the next steps of treatment.

Clinicians screening motives

35%OF USERS

Psychologists, addiction specialists, and clinic staff use it with male clients to quickly identify whether drinking is driven by stress relief, social reasons, or avoidance.

Concerned partners and family

24%OF USERS

Partners or relatives encourage a man to take it to better understand patterns behind his alcohol use and discuss support more constructively.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

Start Online Test

Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Self-injury (S)

Average

7.5

Normal range

5.2 — 9.8

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Additive (A)

Average

6.5

Normal range

4.2 — 8.8

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Hangover (H)

Average

5.8

Normal range

3.2 — 8.3

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Hyperactivation (H)

Average

4.8

Normal range

2.2 — 7.3

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Ataractic (A)

Average

6.3

Normal range

3.6 — 9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Hedonistic (H)

Average

7.5

Normal range

5.1 — 9.9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Pseudocultural (P)

Average

3.8

Normal range

1.9 — 5.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Submissive (S)

Average

3.9

Normal range

1.3 — 6.6

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Traditional (T)

Average

3.8

Normal range

1.3 — 6.3

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

General motivational tension (Gmt)

Average

Normal range

59.6 — 100.4

min.

max.

135

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Start Online Test

Featured On

CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It assesses motives for alcohol use, such as relaxation, social reasons, and avoidance of unpleasant emotions. Results summarize which motives are most prominent.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for adult men. It is not validated for women and should not be interpreted as equivalent across sexes.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Typical completion time is about 9 minutes. It includes 45 items.

How are responses provided?

Items are answered using the response options shown for each statement. Answers should reflect typical patterns rather than a single unusual occasion.

How should results be interpreted?

Scores indicate the relative strength of different drinking motives and are used to guide clinical formulation and intervention planning. Because the original factor structure has been questioned in recent research, results are best used as a supplementary source of information.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Motivation for Alcohol Consumption, MAC Test

Alcohol Consumption Motivation Questionnaire Test - Symptoms and Signs

addiction alcoholism addiction medicine

This questionnaire is used to assess reasons an individual may drink alcohol, with an emphasis on identifying patterns in motivation that can inform case formulation. The Alcohol Consumption Motivation Questionnaire is a self-report measure intended to clarify the relative prominence of different drinking motives.

It consists of 45 items and typically takes about 9 minutes to complete. Items ask respondents to endorse statements reflecting common motivational themes (e.g., coping/avoidance, social facilitation, enhancement/relaxation), supporting a structured discussion of triggers and maintaining factors. Scoring is generally interpreted at the domain level to guide clinical interviewing and treatment planning; results should be integrated with broader assessment of alcohol use severity, context, and comorbid symptoms.

The Alcohol Consumption Motivation Questionnaire is attributed to G. A. Marlatt. It is best used as an adjunct to a comprehensive evaluation rather than a stand-alone diagnostic tool.

Author: G. A. Marlatt

Literature: Cox, W. M., & Klinger, E. A motivational model of alcohol use. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 1988.; Marlatt, G. A., & Donovan, D. M. (Eds.). Relapse prevention: Maintenance strategies in the treatment of addictive behaviors. Guilford Press. 2005.; Cooper, M. L. Motivations for alcohol use among adolescents: Development and validation of a four-factor model. Psychological Assessment. 1994.

Test Question Form