For many patients, weight-loss medications such as Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Ozempic have delivered an unexpected side effect: a notable decline in the desire to consume alcohol. These drugs, which contain semaglutide or tirzepatide, function by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone to suppress appetite and promote satiety. However, emerging evidence suggests these medications also influence the brain’s reward response, potentially curbing cravings for substances like alcohol and nicotine.
Lisa Rees, a 46-year-old from South Wales, began taking weight-loss medication in April with the goal of shedding a few kilograms. She soon discovered what she describes as the drug’s “best benefit”: a significant reduction in her alcohol intake. Previously, Lisa would consume two bottles of wine during a night out, but she now finds that after just two glasses, she “just physically cannot drink another drop.”
Before starting her treatment, Lisa estimated she drank between six and eight bottles of wine weekly, often worrying about the potential health implications. While she still enjoys wine, her consumption has more than halved; at a recent nine-hour festival, she limited herself to three glasses, a stark contrast to her previous habit of drinking two bottles plus vodka mixers. She notes that while she still feels socially involved, she no longer has the capacity to drink at her former levels.
The experiences of patients like Lisa are supported by a growing body of research. Dr. Christian Hendershot of the University of South Carolina notes that data regarding these effects is “accumulating very quickly.” In 2025, Hendershot published a small-scale study showing that participants with alcohol use disorder experienced fewer cravings while taking Ozempic. Furthermore, a study from the University of Colorado Anschutz, published last week, indicated that oral GLP-1 medications led to fewer days of heavy drinking among individuals with mild to moderate alcohol use disorder.
Warren Thomas, 45, from Colchester, reported a similar shift after beginning Mounjaro in mid-June. Within 24 hours of his first dose, he noticed a complete loss of desire for alcohol. During a recent social outing, he found that two beers left him feeling “light-headed and a little bit giddy,” leading him to conclude that his tolerance for alcohol is now effectively zero.
Not all experiences have been positive, however. For 20-year-old Faye Goodwin, a recent graduate, the medication has complicated her social life. Faye, who has been taking Mounjaro since age 18, reports that drinking alcohol triggers overwhelming nausea and acid reflux. Because she has never experienced alcohol without the influence of the medication, she finds it difficult to navigate social settings where drinking is central.
Faye occasionally delays her injection by a day to mitigate these side effects before planned nights out, though she has sometimes opted to skip social events entirely to avoid the discomfort. She admits that feeling unable to keep up with peers has made it challenging to maintain friendships, particularly during her time at university in Cambridge.
While observational studies suggest a general trend of reduced alcohol consumption among those on these drugs, clinical trials have primarily focused on individuals with diagnosed alcohol use disorder rather than occasional drinkers. Currently, there is no formal guidance in the British National Formulary regarding alcohol consumption for those on weight-loss medication, according to Professor Russell Hearn, a GP at King’s College London.
Despite the lack of formal clinical guidelines, Professor Hearn advises his patients that reducing alcohol intake is beneficial for weight loss, as alcohol is calorie-dense. He emphasizes that cutting back on drinking can assist in achieving weight-loss goals alongside dietary changes.
The potential for these medications to treat other addictions, such as smoking and opioid dependency, is also currently under investigation by researchers. In the United States, some medical facilities have already begun prescribing these drugs off-label to patients struggling with alcohol use disorder.
For patients like Warren, the change has been a welcome, if unintended, development. “To cut it out completely has been very refreshing, without really trying,” he says, noting that he has no real desire to return to his previous drinking habits.
Ultimately, the impact of GLP-1 medications on alcohol consumption remains a complex issue. While some users report a liberating loss of interest in drinking, others, like Faye, find the physical side effects to be a significant barrier to their social well-being. As research continues, the medical community remains focused on understanding the full scope of how these drugs interact with the brain’s reward pathways.
The drugs, with brands including Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic, contain semaglutide or tirzepatide, which mimic a natural hormone called GLP-1.
People taking the drugs told that alcohol had affected them in different ways: some said their cravings for it had gone, drinking had made them feel nauseous or uncomfortably full, or they had got drunk more qui
NHS guidance, external is that people should not drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, which is about six medium glasses of wine or six pints.
This suppresses appetite and keeps people feeling fuller for longer, helping them to lose weight.
Alcohol use disorder, sometimes referred to as alcoholism, is described by the NHS as drinking in a way that is harmful.
People taking the drugs told that alcohol had affected them in different ways: some said their cravings for it had gone, drinking had made them feel nauseous or uncomfortably full, or they had got drunk more quickly.
Drinking too much in the long term can lead to liver damage, high blood pressure and increased risk of cancer.
Alcohol has always been a big part of her social life and when she stopped drinking for a few weeks in the late 2010s, she realised friends had stopped inviting her to social events.
For years, Warren Thomas, 45, from Colchester, had enjoyed an occasional beer with his family after work, as well as one or two heavy drinking sessions with his friends each month.
“Alcohol has a lot of calories in it and if your goal is to lose weight, drinking less will definitely help you with that alongside changing your diet while you’re on a GLP-1,” he says.
But she says she once took a month off the jabs and was able to drink without experiencing any nausea.
When she does drink, she usually consumes much less than everyone else.
Dr Darren Quelch has spoken to people getting alcohol addiction support about their concerns around weight-loss drugs as treatment
There are still unanswered questions around whether it is safe for people without obesity and diabetes to use the drugs for addiction treatment, and whether they will be affordable, says Dr Darren Quelch, who researches addiction at the University of South Wales.
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