Brad Pitt has revealed that he began drinking again after maintaining seven years of sobriety, according to a wide-ranging interview published by Esquire. The 62-year-old Oscar winner made the candid admission while reflecting on his relationship with alcohol, his personal struggles, and a dark period in his past when he grappled with overwhelming emotional pain.
The conversation provides a rare, unvarnished look into the actor’s private life, detailing how his approach to alcohol has shifted since he originally stopped drinking following his 2016 split from Angelina Jolie. Beyond his sobriety journey, Pitt opened up about his mental health, describing a fleeting moment of intense despair and the resilience that ultimately pulled him through.
Here is a closer look at what the actor shared about his renewed relationship with alcohol and his reflections on life in the public eye.
A Shift in Sobriety After Seven Years
Pitt revealed to Esquire that he “got back off the wagon” after seven years without alcohol. The actor explained that his current consumption is handled differently than it was during his heaviest drinking years, stating that he now approaches alcohol “in a more restrained manner” as reported by Hola.com.
“I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,” Pitt said during the interview. He acknowledged that he has occasionally tested his personal boundaries, noting, “I got overconfident a couple times, went, Yep, nope, not good for me. Not in large quantities.”
 "Photo: hola.com")
The star of upcoming films and enduring box-office hits emphasized that moderation requires constant vigilance. “Well . . . I can have a few. But I can’t have a lot. I have to be professional about it,” he shared, adding that he has grown to appreciate clear mornings as an incentive to avoid overindulgence.
Pitt’s original decision to quit drinking came during a tumultuous period following his separation from Angelina Jolie in 2016, which involved an incident aboard a private plane that was subsequently investigated by the FBI without resulting in criminal charges. At the time, Pitt began attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, describing the experience in a 2019 interview with The New York Times as a freeing environment to confront his vulnerabilities.
Reflecting on Mental Health and Darker Moments
In addition to discussing alcohol, Pitt addressed the profound emotional toll of his personal challenges during the Esquire interview. While maintaining that he considers himself a “congenital optimist,” the actor recalled one specific, isolated period when the psychological weight became nearly unbearable.
“I was never suicidal in any way,” Pitt clarified, noting that such despair is contrary to his usual disposition. However, he described a distinct window of time when he “just didn’t see a way out.”
“The pain was so oppressive that—I wasn’t going to act on this, but I could feel—I could feel the cold steel of the bullet in my head, and it felt like relief,” he shared, adding that his natural survival instincts quickly kicked in.
Reflecting on the broader realities of hardship, Pitt acknowledged the dichotomy of his position. “This s–t ain’t easy,” he remarked. “And you’re talking to a guy who won the lottery.” He also spoke about the enduring legacy of grief, observing that surviving profound loss leaves behind an “aching beauty.”
What Comes Next
As Brad Pitt continues promotional engagements and film projects, including his high-profile involvement in upcoming cinematic work, the actor’s candid reflections offer a sobering reminder of the ongoing challenges tied to mental health and personal accountability.
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