Brad Pitt Ends 7-Year Sobriety, Says He Has Resumed Drinking

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By TRH Entertainment Desk

The 62-year-old actor, who gave up alcohol in 2016 after his divorce from Angelina Jolie, says he now drinks in a more measured way.

Mumbai, August 16, 2026 — Brad Pitt has ended a seven-year run of sobriety, the actor revealed in a candid new interview with Esquire. The 62-year-old star, who got sober in 2016 following his divorce from Angelina Jolie, said he has resumed drinking — though he described it as a more measured habit than before.

Asked about a glass of wine he’d offered his interviewer, Pitt explained his own drinking had resumed. “I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,” he told Esquire, adding that he’s now drinking “in a more restrained manner.”

He said he had gotten “overconfident a couple times” and quickly recognized the habit still wasn’t good for him in large amounts. “I can have a few [glasses of wine],” he said, adding: “But I can’t have a lot. I have to be professional about it.”

Pitt originally gave up alcohol in 2016 after a widely reported mid-air incident with Jolie, and has previously credited actor Bradley Cooper and a 12-step program with helping him stay sober. He’s spoken about the experience publicly before, including telling podcast host Dax Shepard last year that AA meetings helped him become more open after a period when he was “pretty much on my knees.”

Grief, Family Strain and a ‘Brief Period’ of Dark Thoughts

The sobriety revelation came inside a wider, unusually personal conversation. Pitt discussed the loss of his mother, Jane Pitt, who died last year at 84, describing grief as leaving “a gaping hole” that also carries “profound beauty.”

He also referenced ongoing strain with some of his six children from his marriage to Jolie, several of whom have dropped his surname, calling it simply “family stuff” without elaborating further.

In that context, Pitt described a brief period when he experienced suicidal ideation — something he said was otherwise out of character for him. “I was never suicidal in any way,” he said, describing himself instead as a “congenital optimist.” But during one difficult stretch, he said, “I just couldn’t — just didn’t see a way out,” recalling a moment when the idea of dying felt like relief from emotional pain before what he called his “incredible survival instincts” kicked in. He was clear that he “wasn’t going to act on” the thoughts.

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Recovery Community Reacts

Pitt’s disclosure that he’s drinking again drew a notably split reaction, particularly within recovery-focused online communities. The Hollywood Reporter noted the comments drew scepticism in forums like Reddit’s r/stopdrinking, where one user pushed back on the idea of moderating after addiction, writing that framing drinking as something requiring rules and discipline isn’t how a “healthy relationship with alcohol” works. Other users in the same discussion were similarly doubtful that controlled drinking was realistic long-term.

Revelation Amid Promotion

Pitt’s interview arrives as he promotes “The Smashing Machine” follow-up and his upcoming Formula 1-adjacent film work, with press attention this cycle also touching on his relationship with his father and his approach to aging in the public eye.

But it’s the sobriety and mental-health disclosures that have dominated coverage since publication, marking one of the more unguarded interviews Pitt has given in years.

(This article touches on sensitive topics including suicidal ideation and alcohol addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988, or online at 988lifeline.org.)