[Update of the S3 guidelines "Screening, diagnosis, and treatment of alcohol-use disorders"]

The S3 guidelines "Screening, diagnosis, and treatment of alcohol-use disorders" have been revised based on the latest evidence. Compared to the version from 2021 the guidelines now feature more precise definitions and diagnostic criteria, closer alignment with the International Classification of Diseases version 11 (ICD-11), a more comprehensive view of somatic and psychiatric comorbidities and differentiated recommendations for specific populations, including pregnant women, children and adolescents, older adults and family members, alongside gender-sensitive and diversity-sensitive perspectives. For the clinical practice this means a more structured care pathway spanning screening, withdrawal management, post-acute care, rehabilitation, relapse prevention and cross-sectoral coordination. This article outlines the structure, core content and key updates from the perspective of psychiatric and addiction medical care.