The cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist, rimonabant, suppressed the intake of alcohol and chocolate in rats. This study investigated the effect of rimonabant on the motivational properties – rather than the consummatory aspects – of alcohol and chocolate. In Experiment 1, Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats were trained to lever-press for alcohol (15%; FR4; 30 min/day sessions). Once stable levels of responding had been reached, extinction sessions were conducted [specifically, alcohol was absent and extinction responding (ER) was recorded as index of alcohol's motivational strength]. ER for alcohol was ~30%, ~60%, and ~90% lower in 0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg rimonabant-treated rats, respectively, than in vehicle-treated rats. In Experiment 2, Wistar rats were trained to lever-press for chocolate (5% Nesquik®; FR10; 20 min/day sessions). Rats averaged ~800 responses and self-administered ~50 ml/kg chocolate in each session. Two measures of chocolate's motivational properties were used: breakpoint (BP) and ER. Under the BP procedure, the response requirement was increased progressively over the session, and BP for chocolate was the lowest, not-achieved response requirement. BP for chocolate was ~15%, ~20%, and ~65% lower in 1, 3, and 5.6 mg/kg rimonabant-treated rats, respectively, than in vehicle-treated rats. ER for chocolate was ~40%, ~55%, and ~70% lower in 1, 3, and 5.6 mg/kg rimonabant-treated rats, respectively, than in vehicle-treated rats. These results suggest that the cannabinoid CB1 receptor is part of the neural substrate mediating the motivational properties of alcohol and highly palatable foods, and confirm the anorectic properties of rimonabant and its therapeutic potential as anti-alcohol agent.