People on Dry January can answer four simple questions to identify if they have an alcohol problem

Here is a simple questionnaire which participants in Dry January can use to identify whether or not they may have an alcohol problem.

It's the start of a new year, which means Brits up and down the country will be detoxing from their annual Christmas bender by partaking in Dry January, a month-long challenge where you forgo any drinking.

The challenge has been running for well over a decade now - an estimated 200,000 people in the UK took part last year - with countless stories revealing the benefits of going sober for a month.

But how many people taking part in Dry January actually have a problem with their drinking habits?

For anyone who's concerned, there is a simple questionnaire which can identify whether or not you fall into the category of problem drinking.

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The CAGE questionnaire

According to UK Addiction Treatment Centres, the CAGE questionnaire consists of the following four questions:

1. Have you thought about reducing your alcohol consumption?
2. Have you ever irritated by others commenting on your drinking?
3. Have you experienced guilt related to your drinking habits?
4. Have you ever consumed alcohol first thing in the morning to manage a hangover or to function normally?

Wording of the questions can vary between sites, however the test is a straightforward way of indicating if a person is struggling with alcohol misuse.

UK Addiction Treatment Centres cautions that the CAGE questionnaire isn't a diagnosis in itself but instead a tool which can highlight whether a person needs to seek support for their drinking.

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Why is it called the CAGE questionnaire?

The acronym stands for Cut-down, Annoyance, Guilt and Eye-opener, with the Oxford Academic explaining that if a person answers 'yes' to two or more questions then they may take part in excessive alcohol consumption.

However taking part in Dry January or failing to complete the month does not always suggest a person is dependant on booze (Getty Stock Images)

Does taking part in Dry January mean you have an issue with drinking?

According to GP and author Dr Philippa Kaye, taking part - or failure to take part in - Dry January isn't the best way to signify whether a person has a problem with drinking.

"Around a third of British adults say they will attempt the challenge every year," she wrote in a piece for MailOnline, noting that only a third of people will complete it.

"This doesn't mean all these people have an alcohol problem. It's simply reflective of the fact that abstaining from drinking for a month, particularly in Britain's famously boozy culture, is a difficult feat for most."

Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.