Weight Loss Medications Demonstrate Significant Impact on Alcohol Consumption Patterns

Weight loss medications are producing an unexpected secondary effect that could reshape drinking habits across millions of users, as mounting evidence suggests these treatments substantially reduce cravings for alcohol alongside their appetite-suppressing properties.

Ian Strachan, a pharmacist operating multiple locations across Greater Manchester, prescribes weight loss injections to between 200 and 300 patients monthly. Whilst he initially informed patients the drugs would diminish their desire to eat, a consistent pattern emerged that extended beyond food consumption. Patients regularly reported losing interest in alcohol entirely, with many stating they no longer felt compelled to drink at the end of the day. For regular drinkers, the treatment eliminated habitual consumption, with a notable proportion of female patients abandoning wine altogether.

Research published in JAMA Psychiatry in February 2024 provided empirical support for these anecdotal observations. The study demonstrated that semaglutide, the compound marketed as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, reduced alcohol consumption by approximately 40 per cent. The research revealed that semaglutide outperformed existing alcoholism treatments in suppressing alcohol cravings, representing a significant development in addiction medicine.

Christian Hendershot, director of clinical research at the USC Institute for Addiction Science and author of the study, explained the neurological basis for these effects. Overlap exists in the brain systems regulating food-related and drug-related reward mechanisms, which accounts for the medication’s dual impact. The evidence indicates generalised effects on cravings that extend beyond alcohol to include other substances such as nicotine.

The global research community has responded with considerable interest. According to the US database of clinical trials, 27 studies are currently underway at various institutions worldwide. These investigations examine whether Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro produces similar effects to Wegovy and assess potential applications for treating severe alcohol use disorders, including studies focused on veterans. Notably, Novo Nordisk is not conducting proprietary trials in this area.

Prof Naveed Sattar, appointed to lead Britain’s obesity reduction programme in 2023, advocated for longer-term trials to definitively establish the precise effects on alcohol consumption. He acknowledged potential confounding factors, noting that reduced eating occasions naturally limit opportunities for alcohol consumption. However, Sattar expressed reasonable confidence that controlled randomised trials, where subjects are offered alcohol in laboratory settings, will confirm the drugs genuinely diminish drinking desire, whilst emphasising that conclusive evidence remains outstanding.

The implications for the alcohol industry are substantial. Approximately 2.5 million Britons currently take obesity medications, with the majority accessing them privately. Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged last year to expand NHS access to these treatments, potentially amplifying market effects.

Ian Marber, a nutrition therapist, predicted visible changes in hospitality sector offerings. Restaurants will likely feature more wines available by the glass rather than bottles, as the phenomenon of ordering additional rounds diminishes. A restaurateur operating multiple sites across Surrey and Sussex recently informed Marber that main course portion sizes had been reduced due to excessive waste generated by customers using obesity medications. Marber observed that industries have yet to fully adapt, remaining uncertain about optimal strategic responses.

Drinks manufacturers are monitoring developments closely. In February 2024, Diageo’s then-chief executive Debra Crew stated the company, which owns brands including Johnnie Walker and Guinness, had not observed material negative impacts on sales from weight loss drugs, despite approximately 15 million Americans using these medications. However, Crew acknowledged early studies indicating obesity medications could convert heavy drinkers into moderate consumers, describing Diageo as supportive of this trend. She attempted to frame the development positively, suggesting the drugs would accelerate the existing consumer shift towards premium spirits consumed in smaller quantities rather than mass-market beers and wines.

Marber reported that users generally develop an aversion to alcohol, partly due to altered metabolic processing. Research from the Yale School of Medicine found that weight loss medications elevated blood alcohol levels because the drugs slow metabolic rates. Some users report experiencing dizziness when drinking. GLP-1 medications can cause mild dehydration and reduced blood glucose levels, both effects associated with alcohol consumption, creating compounded physiological responses.

These factors are driving increased demand for low and non-alcoholic beverages. Marber identified GLP-1 medications as a significant contributor to the strong performance of alcohol-free brands. The brewing and spirits sectors are responding by expanding non-alcoholic product ranges. Suffolk brewer Adnams has made non-alcoholic versions of its popular drinks widely available to address this growing market segment. A company spokesman noted that discussions around GLP-1 medications occur with increasing frequency, given that the user population now rivals the size of the vegan market.

Questions remain regarding whether drinks companies can offset potential sales declines through product diversification. The fundamental mechanism of these medications promotes reduced consumption across categories, whether alcoholic or otherwise. Strachan viewed the alcohol reduction effect positively, noting it would support weight loss objectives. He revealed personal consideration of starting the medication solely to moderate his own drinking habits, despite maintaining a healthy weight.

The pharmaceutical development represents a convergence of obesity treatment and addiction medicine that could generate substantial public health benefits alongside commercial disruption. As clinical evidence accumulates and prescription rates expand, both healthcare systems and consumer industries will need to adapt to a population demonstrating markedly different consumption patterns across multiple product categories.