Alcohol Consumption Widespread In Wild Animals, Says Study

A new study published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution challenges the belief that humans are the only vertebrates that regularly consume alcohol. The analysis reviews existing research papers on animals and their interactions with ethanol, revealing that many species regularly consume ethyl alcohol via fermented fruits, sap, and nectar found in various ecosystems. The study shows that alcohol consumption in the natural world serves different purposes for different species, such as gaining additional calories, protecting against parasites, and potentially offering medicinal properties.

The analysis highlights how ethanol consumption is widespread and ecologically relevant, with examples of various animals consuming alcohol including beetles, honey bees, wasps, and even mammals like elephants and baboons. The study also touches on the challenges of assessing ethanol consumption in the wild, such as measuring alcohol by volume and understanding tolerance across species. Overall, the authors suggest that ethanol has played a role in shaping the evolution of many species and forming symbiotic relationships among organisms.