Brad Pitt said he has resumed drinking after seven years sober, describing his alcohol use as restrained and saying he must remain professional. His comments prompted scepticism in recovery communities, while addiction specialists told The Hollywood Reporter that recovery does not always follow a single abstinence-based model.

Clinical social worker Joe Schrank said claims of moderate drinking after abstinence should be treated cautiously, arguing that people with alcohol problems may not assess themselves reliably. However, he said some people can achieve meaningful improvement through moderation, and stressed that recovery can change over time; Pitt attended Alcoholics Anonymous for 18 months.