Determine whether, in the past 12 months, your patient’s drinking has repeatedly caused or contributed to

risk of bodily harm (drinking and driving, operating machinery, swimming)
relationship trouble (family or friends)
role failure (interference with home, work, or school obligations)
run-ins with the law (arrests or other legal problems)

If yes to one or more your patient has alcohol abuse.

In either case, proceed to assess for dependence symptoms.

Determine whether, in the past 12 months, your patient has

not been able to cut down or stop (repeated failed attempts)
not been able to stick to drinking limits (repeatedly gone over them)
shown tolerance (needed to drink a lot more to get the same effect)
shown signs of withdrawal (tremors, sweating, nausea, or insomnia when trying to
        quit or cut down)
kept drinking despite problems (recurrent physical or psychological problems)
spent a lot of time drinking (or anticipating or recovering from drinking)
spent less time on other matters (activities that had been important or pleasurable)

If yes to three or more your patient has alcohol dependence.