Alcohol experienced rats consumed an average of (a) 1.3 g/kg alcohol per session (b) with a ~90% preference across 35 limited access 2 h sessions of two bottle choice. c Alcohol experienced (alcohol) and alcohol naïve (naïve) rats received an injection of yohimbine and infusion of either CART antibody (CART Ab) or vehicle (VEH) prior to light–dark box testing. d, e Alcohol experienced rats administered VEH, showed a decrease in % time spent in the light side and increased latency to enter the light compared to alcohol naïve VEH-treated rats. Intra-CeA CART Ab administration in alcohol experienced rats restored the time spent in the light side and latency to enter the light side to levels observed in alcohol naïve rats. f Cannula placements for VEH administration in alcohol naïve rats (n = 6, green), VEH administration in alcohol experienced rats (n = 7, grey) and CART Ab administration in alcohol experienced rats (n = 8, blue) relative to bregma. One-way ANOVA, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM.