Does Varenicline Influence Alcohol Consumption in Alcohol Dependent Individuals?

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age: 30-70 years at screening 2. Alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV (meeting ≥3 out of 7 criteria) 3. ≥ 20 heavy drinking days (men: ≥ 5 drinks/day, women: ≥4 drinks/day, where 1 std. drink is defined as 12 g ethanol) during the last 60 days 4. Participants must have signed the informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. Subject to treatment of alcohol withdrawal within 30 days of study initiation 2. Subject to treatment that may affect alcohol consumption including acamprosate, naltrexone, disulfiram, ondansetron, topiramate, SSRIs, varenicline, mirtazapine, rimonabant, methylphenidate or atomoxetine within 3 months of study initiation 3. Subject to treatment of depression within 3 months of study initiation 4. The continuous use of drugs such as codeine, hydroxyzine, alimemazine, benzodiazepines or sedatives (the sporadic use of these compounds is accepted) 5. Any concurrent medication that may affect the results of the trial or is considered to compromise the safety of the participants in the trial 6. History of Delirium Tremens the last 5 years or any history of abstinence-induced seizures 7. Laboratory hepatic values of more than 3 times the upper limit of the normal range or other clinically significant abnormalities in the screening laboratory values. 8. Participants who are pregnant or nursing infant(s), and women of childbearing potential not using a contraceptive method judged by the investigator to be effective. 9. Any ongoing serious psychiatric or somatic disorder 10. Any psychiatric Axel I diagnoses (except for nicotine or alcohol dependence) 11. The concurrent use of illicit drugs based on urine-toxicity test 12. The need for detoxification 13. Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 14. Suicidal risk 15. Homelessness 16. Additional factors that implies to the investigator/physician that the participant will not be completing the study