Put your money where your drink is: study tests deposit contracts to curb heavy drinking

NCT ID NCT05837611

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study aimed to see if asking people to put down a deposit (between $30 and $100) that they could earn back by meeting their drinking goals would help them drink less. Participants would wear a remote alcohol monitor to track their drinking. The study was withdrawn before anyone enrolled, so no results are available.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Deposit contract (behavioral) and transdermal alcohol monitoring

What this could lead to

If it had worked, this approach could have offered a low-cost, stigma-free way for people to reduce heavy drinking on their own schedule.

What could go wrong

The study was withdrawn before any participants were enrolled, so no results are available. The approach relies on personal motivation and may not work for everyone.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

alcohol abuse

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University Of North Texas

    Denton, Texas, 76210, United States

  • University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

    San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States