Chimpanzees and Alcohol: A Natural Taste

Recent research has revealed that wild chimpanzees consume significant amounts of alcohol through their diet of ripe fruit. Scientists estimate that these primates ingest about 14 grams of ethanol daily, which is equivalent to the alcohol content in one bottle of lager.

The study suggests that this behavior might explain the human attraction to alcohol. Researchers propose that our taste for alcoholic beverages could be an inherited trait from our common ancestors with chimpanzees. This idea, known as the 'drunken monkey' hypothesis, is gaining support among scientists.

Interestingly, the fruits most frequently consumed by chimpanzees are those with the highest alcohol content. This discovery provides valuable insights into the evolutionary origins of human alcohol consumption and its potential role in primate social behavior. However, it's important to note that the chimpanzees are not consuming enough alcohol to become intoxicated, which would be detrimental to their survival.