GLP-1 boom could reshape restaurant bars as diners cut back on alcohol

The rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs could be changing more than what Americans put on their plates, as restaurants increasingly look to wellness drinks and other alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages.

The National Restaurant Association’s new 2026 Restaurant Beverage Trends report found growing interest in a wider range of drink choices, particularly among younger consumers, as restaurants experiment with everything from wellness and energy drinks to smoothies, lemonades and alcohol-free cocktails.

Chad Moutray, chief economist at the Washington, D.C.-based National Restaurant Association, told Fox News Digital that the growing use of GLP-1 medications is one of several health trends restaurant operators are watching.

Derek Brown, a hospitality consultant and founder of Drink Company, said he’s also seeing GLP-1s contribute to a broader shift toward moderation.

“Yeah, there’s no doubt that GLP-1s are having an effect on the way that people consume,” Brown told Fox News Digital. “And it’s part of a basket of things that’s contributing to people moderating more often.”

The drugs can affect people’s appetites for both food and drinks, Brown said, potentially leading some customers to consume less alcohol or choose nonalcoholic alternatives.

“I think that’s clearly part of this entire moderation trend that we’re seeing that’s just a part of it, but it’s significant enough, so I think that’s certainly a real thing,” Brown said. “And I definitely think that bars and restaurants are starting to feel that.”

The changing beverage landscape, however, doesn’t necessarily mean younger Americans are abandoning alcohol.

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Per the report, 71% of Gen Z adults and 74% of millennials surveyed said they drink alcohol either at home or at restaurants. Sixty percent of Gen Z adults and 68% of millennials said they drink alcohol at restaurants.

Moutray believes younger consumers are instead choosing from a broader portfolio of drinks.

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That broader selection could be increasingly important for restaurants. The report found that 87% of full-service operators and 80% of limited-service operators said beverages can be an important driver of customer traffic.

“It’s driving traffic, it’s getting people excited and it’s, hopefully, also helping to improve overall profit margins,” Moutray said.