Mild alcohol use disorder

Mild AUD requires 2-3 criteria. This patient meets well more than 3.

Severe alcohol use disorder

DSM-5 AUD severity is based on the number of 11 criteria met in a 12-month period: mild (2-3), moderate (4-5), severe (6+). This patient meets at least 8 of the 11 DSM-5 criteria: (1) drinking more/longer than intended, (2) persistent desire/unsuccessful efforts to cut down, (3) significant time obtaining and recovering, (4) craving, (5) failure to fulfill major role obligations at work (absenteeism write-ups), (6) continued use despite interpersonal problems (wife threatening divorce), (7) giving up important activities (basketball league, family dinners), (8) tolerance. Withdrawal is not required for severe AUD. Note that DSM-5 removed the legal-problems criterion that was present in DSM-IV — a DUI alone is not a DSM-5 AUD criterion unless framed under the 'recurrent use in physically hazardous situations' criterion (which would require more than a single incident).

Moderate alcohol use disorder

Moderate AUD requires 4-5 criteria. This patient meets at least 6.

Alcohol abuse (not dependence)

DSM-5 eliminated the abuse/dependence distinction. AUD is a single diagnosis with mild/moderate/severe specifiers. Absence of withdrawal does not preclude a severe diagnosis.