How to Stop Alcohol Cravings

You know that feeling all too well – you swore to yourself you would stop doing, eating or taking something, but then something deep in your gut makes you want it desperately. It feels like madness. Every fibre of your brain is willing you to do what you really don’t want to.

Why do we crave something? What is the biological process behind this, and what can we do about it?

Let’s explore what causes alcohol cravings and what steps you can take to reduce their intensity and regain control.

What causes a craving?

A craving goes a little further than simply ‘wanting’ something. It’s your brain and body teaming up, often unconsciously, to push you toward something they think will fix a need or give pleasure. But why does this even happen? 

Well, of course, we need to explore the biology and psychology behind cravings to get a clearer idea of why they happen.

The biology of cravings

At the centre of most cravings is a brain region called the reward system, especially areas like the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area (VTA). These parts ‘light up’ when we anticipate something pleasurable, which could be your favourite food, drugs, sex, social approval and even love.

Dopamine is the main culprit here. It’s released in anticipation of a reward (not the reward itself), which kind of explains the excited feeling you get when you know something great is going to happen. This motivates you to seek it out, almost to make sure it happens.

Once you’ve had the thing you craved, your brain reinforces the behaviour, making you more likely to chase it again. Basically, your brain remembers how it made you feel and stores that feeling for later.

Over time, just seeing or experiencing a cue, perhaps a smell, a location, or a memory, can activate this dopamine system and trigger a craving.

 

When it comes to substances, though, this is a little different and certainly more aggressive. Drugs, sugar, and even ultra-processed food can hijack this system, releasing huge surges of dopamine. The more you repeat the behaviour, the more the brain adapts by dulling its response, meaning you need more just to feel the same buzz. This is what’s known as tolerance.

When you don’t have it, your brain starts shouting: “Something’s wrong!” Cue the craving.

The psychology of cravings

While biology provides the fuel, psychology steers the wheel. Cravings often emerge in response to different situations. To make this clearer, below we highlight a few examples:

1. Emotional states

We learn to associate certain things with emotional relief, like food for boredom, cigarettes for stress, or alcohol for loneliness. Cravings are often your mind’s way of offering a pathway to happiness.

2. Conditioning and habit

Following on from our first point, the more often something brings relief in an emotional moment, the more your brain starts treating it as a reliable fix. If chocolate helps you unwind after dinner, just finishing the meal might trigger the urge, even if you’re not particularly stressed. 

In the same way, if alcohol once dulled the edge of anxiety, your brain begins to link stress with drinking as a way to relax. One study even found that using food to cope with emotional distress can condition the brain into believing it’s a dependable way to regulate mood. That’s classical conditioning in action and it’s often hard to spot until the behaviour feels automatic.

3. Memory and imagination

While we all know the brain can recall the past and store memories, it’s also great at simulating pleasure. So when you think about that slice of cake or that first sip of beer, your brain starts recreating the memory of pleasure, pulling you toward it like a magnet. For harmful substances like alcohol, this is where the dangerous cravings can begin.

What makes an alcohol craving so dangerous?

As we said earlier, cravings aren’t always a cause for concern. A slice of cake now and then won’t ruin your health. Although it is also not idea in excess and you might want to consider cutting down with Desistal’s Curb Sugar Cravings!

But swap that cake for alcohol, and it’s a very different story. Alcohol is one of the most harmful substances known to us, both physically and mentally. When you begin craving it, the risk isn’t something you can brush off.

Some alcohol cravings are tied to past experiences that felt safe or fun. Maybe you associate Friday evenings with a cold drink after a long week, or you miss the social connection that used to accompany alcohol. In these cases, you’re not craving the alcohol; you’re craving what it represented.

But when the craving is for alcohol itself, not the moment, not the memory, that’s where the danger lies. At this point, your body may be calling out for something that’s actively harming it.

So why does the body do that? Why would it crave something so destructive?

A growing tolerance causes the brain to adapt

Alcohol affects the brain’s reward system by releasing dopamine. When drinking becomes regular, your brain adapts by producing less dopamine naturally. It starts relying on alcohol to fill the gap. Eventually, your body craves alcohol not for the fun or relaxation, but simply to feel ‘normal’. This is no longer about enjoyment. It’s about functioning.

The more this happens, the more the brain treats alcohol as a requirement. This rewiring makes cravings feel urgent, even in the absence of any social or emotional context.

Withdrawal symptoms make it feel necessary

Once physical dependence sets in, stopping alcohol leads to withdrawal. These symptoms range from:

• Anxiety
• Sweating
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Tremors
• Seizures

If you’ve experienced any of this before, your brain remembers it. It learns to avoid it, often by triggering cravings for alcohol to stop the discomfort before it starts.

So now, alcohol isn’t being craved for pleasure, it’s being craved to avoid pain. That changes everything.

How can I reduce cravings for alcohol?

As we discussed, cravings don’t come out of nowhere; they’re often the result of triggers, whether you realise it in the moment or not. One of the most effective ways to reduce cravings is to first understand what sets them off. 

These triggers fall into two main categories: external and internal.

External triggers

External triggers are easier to spot. These are the people, places, objects, or even times of day that remind you of drinking or create an easy opportunity to do so. A pub you used to frequent, a friend who always encouraged “just one more”, or even a Friday evening can all act as external triggers. These situations are usually predictable, which makes them more avoidable. 

Reducing exposure to these cues, even temporarily, can make a big difference in managing cravings.

Internal triggers: What’s happening inside

Internal triggers are more subtle and harder to catch. Sometimes, the craving just appears, and it’s hard to say why. But if you stop and think about it, there’s often a hidden cause; perhaps a stray thought, a wave of boredom, or even a headache or pang of anxiety. Your brain might be responding to emotional or physical discomfort and turning to alcohol as a quick fix. Becoming aware of these moments is key to interrupting the cycle.

Track your cravings

To get a clearer picture of your personal triggers, try tracking your cravings for a couple of weeks. Write down the time, what was happening, how you were feeling, and what the craving felt like. Patterns will start to appear, and once you know what your brain is reacting to, you’re in a much better position to change how you respond. 

You don’t have to eliminate every trigger; just recognising them can weaken their hold.

What should I do when an alcohol craving hits?

Even with preparation, cravings can still take you by surprise. In those moments, the most important thing is not to panic or act on impulse. The goal is to ride it out long enough for that feeling to lose its power.

One of the most effective approaches is to delay and distract. Give yourself a set time, even just ten minutes, where you commit to not acting on the craving. During that time, shift your focus elsewhere. Go for a walk, wash the dishes, call someone, scribble your thoughts in a notebook. Even low-effort tasks can help short-circuit the mental loop.

It also helps to remind yourself that cravings are temporary. They feel urgent and overpowering, but they don’t last forever. The more times you resist them, the weaker they become. Each craving you move through without drinking is a quiet step toward rewiring your brain’s response to discomfort or temptation.

Are there any supplements I can take to reduce alcohol cravings?

There’s no magic cure for alcohol addiction, and nothing that flicks a switch to shut off cravings completely. But there are ways to reduce the intensity of those urges and support your brain as it adjusts to life without alcohol.

Desistal is one such supplement. It isn’t about forcing sobriety or shocking your system. Instead, it’s designed to support your recovery from the inside by gently helping your brain and body rebalance after heavy drinking. One of the biggest shifts that happens after quitting alcohol is a drop in NAD+, a coenzyme your cells need to function properly. That’s where Desistal comes in, helping to restore energy, improve focus, and ease the mental crash that often follows withdrawal.

Its key ingredients include:

• Bacopa Monnieri: Traditionally used to aid memory and mental clarity. In recovery, it helps reduce stress, lift a low mood, and support sharper thinking.
• Apple Cider Vinegar (acetate): a natural source of acetate, which offers brain-friendly energy and may aid serotonin production, supporting better mood and digestion.
• MCT Oil Powder: Provides fast, clean energy to the brain while raising the NAD+/NADH ratio, offering a stable alternative to alcohol-derived fuel.

How Desistal Works

✔️ Support in curbing alcohol cravings, so you don’t have to rely on willpower alone

✔️ A way to restore nutrients your body may be lacking after regular drinking

✔️ Help with clearing brain fog and feeling more energised during the early stages of sobriety

✔️ A gentler transition into alcohol-free living, especially when symptoms or cravings hit hard

If you’re ready to start listening to your body and take that next step toward a healthier, alcohol-free life, Desistal could be a helpful companion on the road ahead.

FAQs

What are the best drugs to curb alcohol cravings?

Drugs to curb alcohol cravings include naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. These are often prescribed to help reduce alcohol’s appeal and support sobriety, especially when combined with therapy or ongoing recovery support.

Is there a medicine to stop craving alcohol completely?

There isn’t a single medicine that stops alcohol cravings entirely, but several can help reduce them. Pills like naltrexone or acamprosate are commonly used to suppress cravings and support long-term recovery.

How do I stop alcohol cravings without drinking?

To stop alcohol cravings without drinking, many use lifestyle changes, therapy, or supplements like Desistal. Desistal supports your brain’s recovery by easing alcohol craving symptoms and helping you feel more balanced during withdrawal.

Does Mounjaro reduce alcohol cravings, too?

Mounjaro is being researched for its potential effects on alcohol cravings, but it’s not currently approved for this purpose. Speak with a healthcare provider before considering it as a treatment option.

What are the symptoms of alcohol cravings, and how can I manage them?

Alcohol craving symptoms can include restlessness, low mood, and strong urges to drink. These feelings can be managed with therapy, alcohol craving suppressants, or supplements that support brain recovery during early sobriety.

References

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