Alcohol and GLP-1s

GLP-1 medications were originally developed to help manage type 2 diabetes, but in recent years they’ve become increasingly popular for supporting weight loss.

If you’re taking GLP-1 medications, you might notice that drinking alcohol feel different. These medications can affect appetite, cravings, and how your body responds to food and drink. These may change how much you want to drink and how alcohol affects you when you do. Understanding this affects can help you stay more in control and make choices that support your health goals.

What are GLP-1s?

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) are medicines originally developed to help manage type 2 diabetes. In recent years, due to their effectiveness they have also been prescribed to support more generalised weight loss.¹

These medications work by mimicking the natural hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar, slows digestion, and increases feelings of fullness. This can reduce appetite and helps people consume fewer calories.²

GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide (found in Ozempic) and tirzepatide (found in Mounjaro) are now being more widely used as weight-loss treatments alongside lifestyle changes such as improved diet and increased physical activity. Because these medications affect appetite, digestion, early research suggests they may also influence the consumptions of substances other than food, including alcohol.³

Growing use of GLP-1s

Use of GLP-1s has increased significantly in recent years, with growing demand globally for treatments that support weight loss. They may be prescribed through healthcare services, weight management services, and in growing cases, private weight-loss programmes and online providers.⁴

They are recommended for people based on specific clinical criteria, such as having a high body mass index (BMI) or weight-related health condition.⁵

How GLP-1s affect the body

GLP-1s work in several ways that support weight loss and appetite control:

Do GLP-1s affect alcohol?

There is currently no strong evidence of a direct link between alcohol usage and GLP-1s, however, research into this area is still developing. While the mechanism by which these drugs may reduce alcohol intake is not yet understood, it has been suggested that possible mechanisms for this involve central nervous system effects or peripheral effects on gastric emptying, which can impact alcohol’s addictive potential.⁹

Early indications suggest that some people taking GLP-1 drugs have reported some reductions in alcohol intake. However, this is still an emerging field, with available evidence of alcohol reductions restricted to people with obesity or alcohol use disorders.¹⁰

How GLP-1s may affect drinking behaviours

Some emerging evidence suggests that taking GLP-1s could be linked to reductions in alcohol consumption and drinking days.¹¹

While GLP-1s work to promote weight loss partly by suppressing appetite, early investigations indicate that they may also help to reduce cravings for addictive substances in some individuals, including cigarettes and alcohol.¹²

Many people who are taking GLP-1s for weight loss will put more effort into their wider health and wellbeing as part of trying to lose weight. This lifestyle change could mean:

• More physical activities that do not include drinking
• Visiting restaurants less frequently where they tend to drink
• Swapping alcoholic drinks for low calories soft drinks

Whilst these changes reduce a person's alcohol consumption, they tend to happen indirectly as part of a wider shift on their overall health instead of directly alcohol moderation. 

Emerging studies have also found the use of GLP-1s may reduce the risk of substance use, psychotic disorders, seizures, neurocognitive disorders (including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia), coagulation disorders, cardiometabolic disorders, infectious illnesses, and several respiratory conditions.¹³

If you are taking or considering taking GLP-1s it is important to speak to a healthcare professional. They can provide advice based on your health, medication, and lifestyle.

Next steps

See how your drinks add up

Use our alcohol calorie calculator below to see how many units and calories are in your drinks and stay on track.

Find out about alcohol alternatives

Swapping a standard strength beer, wine, or spirit for a low alcohol or alcohol-free alternative could help cut the amount of alcohol you drink and improve your health.

Cutting your drinking with alcohol-free and low alcohol drinks

Guidance on drinking alcohol while taking GLP-1s

Alcohol consumption is not currently a primary factor used to decide whether someone is prescribed GLP-1s. They are only prescribed for diabetes or weight loss purposes.⁽¹⁴⁾

External links to support

GOV.UK: GLP-1s for weight loss and diabetes

NHS England: Weight management injections