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Study Finds Animals Consume 80 Percent Alcohol Solution, Challenging Human-Centric Views, Says University of Exeter's Kimberley Hockings

Oct 30, 2024, 12:42 PM

A recent study has revealed that alcohol consumption among animals is more prevalent than previously believed, challenging the notion that ethanol is primarily a human phenomenon. Researchers found that various species, including hornets and pen-tailed treeshrews, can tolerate high levels of alcohol without showing signs of intoxication. For instance, hornets were observed to remain unaffected after consuming an 80 percent alcohol solution for a week. The study, published by ecologists, suggests that the behavior of animals consuming alcohol could help explain the human affinity for alcoholic beverages. Kimberley Hockings, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Exeter and senior author of the study, emphasized the need to reconsider the human-centric perspective on ethanol consumption in the animal kingdom.