Denzel Washington Opens Up About His Former Struggle With Alcohol

Nationwide — Denzel Washington is nearing a decade of sobriety, proudly stating, “I haven’t had a thimble’s worth since” giving up alcohol at age 60. Now preparing to celebrate his 70th birthday next month, the celebrated actor reflects on his journey with sobriety in the winter issue of Esquire, where he graces the cover.

In the interview, Washington opens up about his past relationship with alcohol, which began innocently with wine. “Wine is very tricky. It’s very slow. It ain’t like, boom, all of a sudden,” he explains. Despite experimenting with substances in his youth, he shares that he never became dependent on hard drugs or liquor, though wine became his particular indulgence. What began as a sophisticated hobby, complete with wine tastings, gradually escalated into a costly habit.

According to People, Washington recalls that when his family installed a wine cellar at their home, he began drinking premium vintages, including bottles worth thousands of dollars. “I learned to drink the best. So I’m gonna drink my ’61s and my ’82s,” he shares. Eventually, he found himself routinely ordering expensive bottles from Gil Turner’s Fine Wines & Spirits in Los Angeles, limiting himself to two bottles a day, though he admits he always finished both. When questioned by his wife, Pauletta, about his habit, he candidly responded, “Because if I order more, I’ll drink more.”

The Oscar-winning actor, known for his discipline, says his drinking never interfered with his work. “I never drank while I was working or preparing,” he notes. However, after completing projects, he would indulge for months at a time before cleaning up again to resume work. By the time he filmed Flight in 2012, where he portrayed an alcoholic pilot, Washington says he was not drinking during production but likely resumed afterward, acknowledging he was nearing the end of his drinking phase.

Reflecting on his journey, Washington admits, “I’ve done a lot of damage to the body. We’ll see. I’ve been clean.” Now looking forward to his 70s, he sees this stage of life as his “last chapter,” drawing inspiration from his late mother, who lived to be 97. “Things are opening up for me now — like being seventy. It’s real. And it’s okay. If I get another thirty, what do I want to do? I’m doing the best I can,” he concludes.