Brad Pitt’s Sobriety U-Turn Has Friends Raising Concerns

Brad Pitt’s decision to drink again after seven years of sobriety is raising questions about whether his carefully controlled return to alcohol can remain that way. 

The actor says he has learned where his limits are, but people close to him are watching the situation closely. 

With a painful family estrangement, the death of his mother and years of personal upheaval behind him, the issue is less about one glass of wine than whether Pitt can keep control of something that once caused devastating consequences.

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Brad Pitt’s relationship with alcohol has changed dramatically over the years. In 2017, the actor reflected on his drinking by saying he could “drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka,” a remark that now carries more weight given what had happened shortly before.

The statement came only a year after the disturbing account of his drunken rage aboard a private flight, an incident that ultimately contributed to the collapse of his marriage and family life. 

Pitt subsequently maintained seven years of sobriety, making his recent admission that he had started drinking again particularly striking. Speaking to Esquire, Pitt acknowledged the change without presenting it as a return to his previous habits. 

“I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,” he said, apparently laughing slightly as he discussed the decision. He insisted that he now drank “in a more restrained manner.”

Pitt explained that he had “got over-confident a couple times,” before recognizing that certain choices were not working for him. The “F1” actor noted that he could “have a few” glasses of wine but emphasized, “I have to be professional about it.”

Pitt’s Friends Are Watching His New Drinking Habits Closely

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According to a source who spoke to the Daily Mail, Brad Pitt’s return to alcohol has had some of his Alcoholics Anonymous friends expressing “concern about him drinking again.”

The insider described it as a “gradual process in recent years,” saying Pitt slowly worked out “how he felt comfortable and what he felt was appropriate for him.”

Friends have reportedly become more aware of his drinking, including when he spends time with his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. 

The couple have been together since late 2022 and moved in together in Los Angeles before making their red-carpet debut at the Venice Film Festival in 2024. Sources say de Ramon may be an important influence as Pitt navigates the change. 

“She’s never set boundaries with Brad, but until recently he’s managed to hold off alcohol,” an insider close to his production company Plan B Entertainment told the outlet, adding, “He’s made a pact with Ines that she won’t let his habit get out of control.”

The same source said de Ramon drinks socially, but remains aware of Pitt’s history and the pressures surrounding him.

Brad Pitt Faces Old Pressures While Trying To Move Forward

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Pitt’s decision to drink again comes during an exceptionally difficult period. According to the source, he has endured what has felt like a never-ending divorce while also struggling to process the death of his mother. 

De Ramon is said to understand the pressure he has faced and remains close by as he navigates it. “Brad has had one of the most stressful years of his life,” the source revealed. 

“On top of dealing with what seemed like a never-ending divorce, he’s found it very difficult to get over his mother’s death,” they added.

Another source close to Pitt’s camp, however, insisted that his decision to drink was not caused by his estrangement from his children. 

According to them, “The extraordinarily painful isolation of his children has been difficult, but his decision to drink is independent of this. It was not [because of] the name changes.”

Angelina Jolie Was Reportedly ‘Not Surprised’ By Pitt’s Return To Drinking

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Brad Pitt’s decision to resume drinking after seven years of sobriety has reportedly prompted a reaction from his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie.

As The Blast reported, a source revealed that Jolie was not shocked by Pitt’s latest revelation and had previously warned that returning to alcohol was a possibility. 

“Angelina is not surprised. She tried to warn people. She knew this was always a possibility,” the source claimed. The insider also alleged that Jolie did not believe Pitt had fundamentally changed.

“She believes Brad is who Brad is, and no amount of sobriety or reinvention changes that,” they added. The source characterized Jolie’s reported reaction as essentially an “I told you so” moment, while claiming that she had no intention of involving herself in Pitt’s current choices. 

Addiction Experts Question Brad Pitt’s Decision To Drink Again

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Pitt’s return to alcohol after seven years of sobriety has prompted addiction experts to look beyond the actor’s own assessment of how well he can manage it. 

In a new Hollywood Reporter analysis, specialists examined the actor’s admission that he was drinking again in a “more restrained manner” and acknowledged that he had occasionally overestimated his ability to control his consumption. 

One clinical social worker offered a particularly blunt warning, saying, “Alcoholics are a horrible source of information about themselves.” 

Another expert described Pitt’s experience as relatively common among people who had struggled with drinking, while emphasizing that returning to alcohol after a period of sobriety could carry different risks for different people. 

The discussion also pushed back against the idea that drinking again automatically meant Pitt had completely abandoned his recovery. 

Instead, the experts emphasized that addiction and recovery were complicated, with outcomes depending on the individual and their history.