Overview

• Virginia Tech researchers reported in Scientific Reports that people on GLP-1 receptor agonists had a slower rise in breath alcohol concentration than matched controls during a controlled drinking session.
• After 20 minutes, average BrAC was 0.017 g/dL in the GLP-1 group versus 0.037 g/dL in controls, and cumulative hourly alcohol exposure was significantly lower for those on the medications.
• Participants taking GLP-1 drugs reported feeling less intoxicated throughout testing and entered the session with lower baseline alcohol craving.
• Findings align with a likely peripheral mechanism in which slowed gastric emptying delays alcohol reaching the bloodstream, distinct from centrally acting treatments such as naltrexone or acamprosate.
• The study was a small, non-randomized pilot involving 20 adults with obesity, showed no between-group differences in blood glucose, and prompted calls for larger randomized trials to test causality and clinical utility.