QE10

ICD-11 MMS 2026-01

Hazardous alcohol use

Description

A pattern of alcohol use that appreciably increases the risk of harmful physical or mental health consequences to the user or to others to an extent that warrants attention and advice from health professionals. The increased risk may be from the frequency of alcohol use, from the amount used on a given occasion, or from risky behaviours associated with alcohol use or the context of use, or from a combination of these. The risk may be related to short-term effects of alcohol or to longer-term cumulative effects on physical or mental health or functioning. Hazardous alcohol use has not yet reached the level of having caused harm to physical or mental health of the user or others around the user. The pattern of alcohol use often persists in spite of awareness of increased risk of harm to the user or to others.

Index terms

  • Hazardous alcohol use

Excludes

  • 6C40 – Disorders due to use of alcohol

Exclusions from above levels

  • http://id.who.int/icd/entity/590211325 – Disorders due to substance use
  • QF21 – Difficulty or need for assistance with general life tasks or life management

Sibling codes

  • QE11 – Hazardous drug use
  • QE12 – Hazardous nicotine use
  • QE13 – Tobacco use
  • QE1Y – Other specified hazardous substance use
  • QE1Z – Hazardous substance use, unspecified

Foundation entity

Hazardous alcohol use – http://id.who.int/icd/entity/499098434

Part of: 24: Factors influencing health status or contact with health services