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.

MOVER OVER, APEROL: VIRAL ITALIAN SPRITZ ARRIVES IN US WITH EYE-CATCHING TWIST The report, which was conducted by the National Restaurant Association and is based on surveys of consumers and restaurant operators across the country, found that health is already influencing some Americans' decisions about alcohol.

Among adults surveyed who said they don't drink alcohol , 25% cited health reasons.

That figure climbed to 34% among Gen Z nondrinkers.

Several trends are converging as younger consumers become more health-conscious and GLP-1 medications become more widely used, Moutray said.

"I think you're seeing a lot younger folks who are, in general, wanting to be healthier.

You have the Make America Healthy Again movement, which is also driving some of this trend," he said.

PROTEIN COFFEE IS EXPLODING IN POPULARITY AMONG ADULTS WORRIED ABOUT MUSCLE LOSS "You have people drinking energy drinks and health drinks and all those things.

And then you add to that the GLP-1 notion, where if you're taking one of those drugs and your appetite is more suppressed, you're not going to drink as much alcohol." Restaurants are already preparing to broaden their drink selections.

Among limited-service restaurant operators, 24% said they planned to add new wellness drinks in 2026, while 26% planned to add energy drinks, 29% smoothies and 27% lemonades.

Just under half, 46%, planned to add new coffee offerings.

"I think as GLP-1s become less expensive as this year goes on and as we move into 2027, you're going to see restaurant operators continuing to look for alternatives that can be good menu options for consumers that might be taking those drugs," Moutray said.