Brad Pitt has revealed his decision to resume drinking alcohol after seven years of complete sobriety. He announced this in a long-running interview with Esquire magazine, published on August 10, 2026. Pitt was the featured subject of the magazine’s global “Mavericks of Hollywood” issue and appeared on its cover.
A curious incident occurred during the interview: Pitt offered the journalist a glass of wine. When the journalist asked if the actor kept alcohol only for guests, Brad laughed and admitted:
No, I… I’ve been sober for seven years. And then he relapsed.
According to the 62-year-old actor, his return to alcohol was a conscious choice. Pitt noted that he spent a long time analyzing his relationship with alcohol and came to the conclusion that he is able to control the process. He emphasizes that this refers to restrained, moderate consumption – he allows himself only a few glasses of wine, without going beyond that.
At the same time, Pitt admitted that during his sobriety, he sometimes became overly self-confident, and later realized that large doses of alcohol are not for him. Now, according to him, he tries to maintain a professional approach and cherish the morning time, which is easily ruined by one too many drinks the night before.
In the same interview, Pitt spoke frankly about a difficult period in his life. He admitted that difficult “family matters”—disagreements with his children and a painful divorce—left him feeling deep despair and even suicidal thoughts.
Brad Pitt began his journey toward sobriety back in the 2000s, initially giving up marijuana for the sake of his children. His alcohol problems worsened later, and he made the final decision to quit drinking completely in 2016, amid his contentious divorce from Jolie. At the time, Pitt was accused of causing a disturbance on a private jet while intoxicated. In subsequent years, the actor attended Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and publicly thanked Bradley Cooper for helping him overcome his addiction.
Besides personal revelations, the interview also touched on other topics. Pitt talked about his new film, Heart of the Beast, which is scheduled to premiere in September 2026, discussed the use of neural networks in the film industry, and jokingly complained about the low quality of acting in porn films.
