LOS ANGELES — Oscar-winning actor Brad Pitt has revealed that he is no longer maintaining total sobriety after seven years of abstaining from alcohol, sharing that he has returned to drinking wine in a controlled, highly restrained manner.
Speaking casually during a profile at his home in Los Angeles, the 62-year-old actor opened up about his updated relationship with alcohol after offering his interviewer a glass of wine.
“I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,” Pitt said, before clarifying that his current approach to alcohol looks vastly different from his past habits. “In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, ‘Yep, nope, not good for me. Not in big quantities.'”
Navigating Alcohol in Moderation After Years in Recovery
Pitt’s decision to step away from complete sobriety marks a new chapter in his well-documented personal journey with alcohol.
While the actor did not specify when he began drinking again, he emphasized that he has set strict boundaries for himself to prevent falling back into excessive consumption.
Key Milestones: Brad Pitt's Journey with Sobriety
• 2016: Stopped drinking following high-profile separation from Angelina Jolie
• 2017–2019: Spent 18 months attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
• 2020: Publicly credited fellow actor Bradley Cooper with aiding his recovery
• 2026: Confirms returning to drinking wine in small, controlled quantities
Setting Strict Personal Boundaries
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Knowing His Limits: Pitt acknowledged testing his boundaries early on, noting: “I can have a few. But I can’t have a lot.”
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A Professional Approach: The actor described maintaining control as a necessity, explaining, “I have to be professional about it.”
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In-Home Setting: The profile noted that Pitt, who operates without a traditional Hollywood publicist, addressed the lifestyle shift casually while hosting at his home.
Reflections on Past Struggles and His Path to Recovery
Pitt initially decided to quit drinking in 2016 following a turbulent personal period that coincided with his separation from ex-wife Angelina Jolie. In subsequent years, the actor spoke candidly about how alcohol had become a coping mechanism throughout much of his adult life.
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Taking Responsibility: In a 2019 interview, Pitt revealed he had “taken things as far as I could take it” before deciding to remove his “drinking privileges.”
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Community in AA: Pitt spent a year and a half in an all-male Alcoholics Anonymous group, describing the experience as a deeply freeing space where he could expose vulnerable parts of himself without judgment.
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Personal Growth: During a podcast appearance in 2025, Pitt reflected on those difficult years as a necessary wake-up call that forced him to address unresolved emotional pain.
A Shifting Perspective on Healing and Balance
While addiction experts generally advise against individuals in recovery returning to alcohol consumption, Pitt described his current routine as a conscious choice rather than a loss of control.
Reflecting on his past grief and family dynamics, Pitt noted that learning to navigate life’s challenges with honesty remains an ongoing priority as he balances his personal life and career.
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