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LOINC Code 63634-0: About how old were you when you first started drinking, not counting small tastes or sips of alcohol [PhenX]

63634-0 is a LOINC code used to identify About how old were you when you first started drinking, not counting small tastes or sips of alcohol [PhenX] in laboratory and clinical observation data. You may see this code in lab systems, lab reports, EHR exports, interoperability feeds, or other structured clinical data exchanges. LOINC codes identify tests, measurements, observations, survey items, and clinical questions in a standardized way. It is associated with the component About how old were you when you first started drinking, not counting small tastes or sips of alcohol. It is commonly used with the system or sample type ^Patient.

Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 21 May 2026

What is this code?

LOINC codes identify tests, measurements, observations, survey items, and clinical questions in a standardized way. It is associated with the component About how old were you when you first started drinking, not counting small tastes or sips of alcohol. It is commonly used with the system or sample type ^Patient.

When is it used?

  • Used in lab systems, EHRs, and clinical data exchange.
  • May identify a test, observation, survey item, or clinical document request rather than a diagnosis.
  • Status: ACTIVE
  • Method: PhenX

What it does not mean

  • The code identifies the observation or test, not the actual result.

Key facts

About how old were you when you first started drinking, not counting small tastes or sips of alcohol [PhenX]
About how old were you when you first started drinking, not counting small tastes or sips of alcohol
The next question is about drinking alcohol. This includes coolers, beer, wine, champagne, liquor such as whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, scotch, or liqueurs, and also any other type of alcohol. Definition of a standard drink1 12oz bottle of beer, 1 glass 4oz non-fortified wine, 1 mixed drink with 1oz liquor. If respondent needs a visual reference for the size of a drink, use the flashcards from the Wave 1 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) study.
Alc; Alc first use age; alcoholic; Point in time; QNT; Quan; Quant; Quantitative; Random

Where you may see this code

You may see this code in lab systems, lab reports, EHR exports, interoperability feeds, or other structured clinical data exchanges.

Common synonyms

About how old were you when you first started drinking, not counting small tastes or sips of alcohol [PhenX]Alc first use age PhenXAbout how old were you when you first started drinking, not counting small tastes or sips of alcoholPHENXTimePt^Patient

Frequently asked questions

Code details

Code63634-0
SystemLOINC
Display nameAbout how old were you when you first started drinking, not counting small tastes or sips of alcohol [PhenX]
DescriptionAbout how old were you when you first started drinking, not counting small tastes or sips of alcohol
Short nameAlc first use age PhenX
ComponentAbout how old were you when you first started drinking, not counting small tastes or sips of alcohol
PropertyTime
TimingPt
System (specimen)^Patient
ScaleQn
MethodPhenX
ClassPHENX
Example unitsyears
StatusACTIVE

Flags

BillableNo
Valid clinical useNo

Source

SourceLOINC
Version2.82
Releasemain
First released2.36
Last changed2.65

Part names

About how old were you when you first started drinking, not counting small tastes or sips of alcoholTimePt^PatientQnPhenXTime (e.g. seconds)Point in time (spot)

About this content

This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from LOINC. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.