Brad Pitt's return to drinking
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The gist
Brad Pitt told Esquire he resumed drinking after seven years sober, now in moderation. His return revives debate on whether former alcoholics can drink safely.
Background
Brad Pitt publicly credited Bradley Cooper for helping him get sober after his 2016 split from Angelina Jolie, during which he was accused of excessive drinking. He spent a year and a half in Alcoholics Anonymous and had been sober for seven years. In an Esquire interview published Aug. 10, 2026, he revealed he had started drinking again, but in a more restrained manner, saying he got overconfident a couple of times and pulled back.
How it unfolded
- 2016Angelina Jolie filed for divorce, alleging Pitt drank excessively on a private plane ride and abused her and their children. Pitt later entered Alcoholics Anonymous.
- 2020At the National Board of Review Gala, Pitt publicly thanked Bradley Cooper for his support, saying 'I got sober because of this guy.'
- Aug 10, 2026In an Esquire interview, Pitt revealed he is no longer sober, saying 'I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon.' He said he now drinks in moderation.
- Aug 11, 2026Page Six reported a source saying Pitt's decision is personal and he knows his limits, and that it doesn't take away from his years of sobriety.
- Aug 14, 2026The New York Times published an article noting experts say Pitt's return to drinking is not unsafe, but it revived a key question about whether someone who once drank dangerously can ever drink moderately.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- A source told Page Six that Pitt's decision is personal and he has had time to reflect, adding that he knows his limits and drinks responsibly.
- Caution
- An opinion piece in MS Now expressed concerns, noting that if Jolie's allegations are true, it's hard to view Pitt's renewed drinking as innocuous.
- Public
- On Reddit, some in recovery criticized Pitt, with one person saying 'Alcoholics can't drink because we can't control our drinking. He seems to think he's an exception.'
- Expert
- Experts told The New York Times that Pitt's return to drinking is not unsafe, but it raises the question of whether moderation is possible for former alcoholics.
Still unverified
Bradley Cooper's reported concern is based on an anonymous source and has not been confirmed by Cooper or his representatives. The allegations by Angelina Jolie about the 2016 incident were never criminally charged and remain disputed.