Rethinking Alcohol: The Role of Ozempic
- Nigel Harpley
- Nov 22
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
My Journey with Ozempic and Alcohol
I was interviewed by 7News not as a researcher or clinician, but as someone with lived experience of becoming alcohol-free. For years, I drank heavily. Eventually, alcohol began affecting my health, energy, and sense of control. I knew something had to change. I did use a medication in the early stages of kicking the drink, not Ozempic, but something that helped take the edge off while I built new habits and support systems. Today, I’ve been alcohol-free for five years.
In the interview, the reporter asked me a simple but interesting question: If Ozempic had been available back then, would I have used it as part of my change? It got me thinking not just about my own journey, but about how rapidly the world is changing. Medications are evolving, research is expanding, and we’re now exploring whether a drug originally designed for diabetes and weight loss might also reduce cravings for alcohol.
It also made me reflect on the many people who are already taking Ozempic for other health reasons. If someone on a GLP-1 medication is finding their usual desire for alcohol naturally dropping away, that could be an opportunity to make a change around their drinking. A moment where behaviour change might feel easier than ever. Below is my take on the science, the possibilities, and the realities.
👉 Read the full 7News article and watch the story: 7News Ozempic and Alcohol Article
Why Ozempic Is Suddenly Being Studied for Alcohol Cravings
Ozempic is a GLP-1 medication designed to regulate blood sugar and support weight loss. But over the past couple of years, something unexpected happened: Many people taking it reported a sharp drop in their interest in alcohol. Their nightly wine felt less appealing. Their weekend beers didn’t have the same pull. Some simply “forgot” to drink. These consistent patterns caught the attention of researchers, and they began studying whether semaglutide could reduce alcohol cravings in a measurable way.
What the Research Says (So Far)
A recent study led by Dr. Christian Hendershot from UNC School of Medicine (as reported in the 7News Australia story and other outlets) found that low-dose semaglutide reduced alcohol cravings, the amount people drank in a controlled setting, and the number of heavy-drinking episodes compared with placebo.
Small Clinical Trials Show Promising Results
Recent studies have shown that people with alcohol use disorder who took low-dose semaglutide experienced:
Reduced cravings
Less alcohol intake on drinking days
Fewer heavy-drinking episodes
These improvements were seen even at low doses.
Large Observational Studies Support the Trend
Analyses of real-world data suggest that:
People on GLP-1 medications appear less likely to develop alcohol-related problems.
Those with existing struggles often report fewer intoxication episodes.
Many describe losing interest in alcohol, nicotine, overeating, and other reward-driven behaviours.
But the Research Is Still Early
This is key:
Ozempic is not approved for treating alcohol use.
Sample sizes are small.
Long-term effects are unknown.
There are many potential side effects and health considerations that would need to be discussed with a doctor.
The results are far from conclusive, though promising.
How Ozempic Might Influence Drinking Behaviours
Scientists believe GLP-1 medications may reduce alcohol use through several pathways:
1. Blunting Dopamine Reward Circuits
(Stanford Medicine) Alcohol becomes less “rewarding,” reducing the urge to seek it.
2. Increasing Satiety
(Mayo Clinic) People feel “full” more easily, which may reduce the impulse to drink.
3. Slowing Alcohol Absorption
(Yale School of Medicine) This can make alcohol feel different and may increase intoxication risk at lower amounts.
4. Creating Mild Aversions
(Stanford Medicine) Some people feel nauseous if they drink on a GLP-1, naturally discouraging alcohol use.
The information suggests multiple mechanisms may be working together. This may explain why some people feel a strong effect, and others feel none at all.
What This Means for Grey-Area Drinkers
Most of the people I support are not at rock bottom. They’re professionals, parents, and high performers who:
Drink more than they’d like.
Rely on alcohol to unwind.
Struggle with moderation.
Feel “fine” on the outside but unsettled inside.
This research matters for them because it reinforces something important:
Cravings are biological as well as behavioural. It’s not about weakness.
Knowing that biology plays a role can help remove shame and open up healthier, more practical conversations about support and change.
Would Ozempic Have Helped Me Back Then?
Possibly, but in a specific way. When I quit drinking, the medication I used helped soften the intensity of early cravings. But it was the behaviour changes that created lasting impact:
Identity shifts.
New routines.
Better coping tools.
Social adjustments.
Accountability.
Learning to decompress without alcohol.
Medication reduced friction, and I still had to be willing to change, both my behaviour and my thinking about alcohol. That’s the nuance I take from this research: medication might help with cravings, but behaviour change is where transformation happens.
A Note for People Already Using Ozempic
One group I’m especially interested in speaking to is people who are already on Ozempic or other GLP-1 medications. If you’re experiencing:
Fewer cravings.
Less interest in drinking.
A natural “easing” of old habits.
This could be a powerful moment to make a change you’ve been thinking about. Not because Ozempic is a treatment for alcohol use (it’s not approved for that). But because if the biological pull is quieter right now, this may be another health goal you could add to your reasons for using one of these medications. It provides a window, an opportunity to:
Reduce drinking.
Take a break.
Build new routines.
Shift your identity around alcohol.
That’s where coaching, tools, and structured support could make the difference between “I drank less for a while” and “I changed my relationship with alcohol for the better.”
The Bottom Line
The connection between Ozempic and alcohol cravings is real enough to study, promising enough to be optimistic about. It's also early enough that we need more evidence before it might be prescribed to curb alcohol use as a primary goal (if ever). It is unlikely to be prescribed for anyone who is not overweight or does not meet specific medical criteria such as diabetes or obesity-related health risks. They are also expensive and may not be accessible to everyone.
What I take from it is this: You don’t need a medication to change your relationship with alcohol. But if you’re already using one and noticing that alcohol has less of a pull, that could be giving you a head start! It might be a good moment to build some lasting changes around it. This is where coaching could also play a part. With intention and support, you could benefit from an added lasting change to your lifestyle.
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