Chimps Drink Daily: Study Challenges Assumptions on Ancestral Alcohol Exposure
Scientists have discovered that chimpanzees consume a significant amount of ethanol daily, challenging previous assumptions about our ancestors' exposure to alcohol. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, shed new light on the 'drunken monkey hypothesis' and our evolutionary history.
Researchers observed two groups of chimps in Uganda and the Ivory Coast, finding that both males and females ingest approximately 0.5 ounces (14 grams) of ethanol per day. This is equivalent to about half a beer for a chimp, or around 2.5 standard drinks for their body size. The ethanol comes from the natural fermentation of fruits in their diet, with the Ngogo chimps consuming fruit with an average ethanol concentration of 0.32%, and Tai chimps having a similar average of 0.31%.
The study suggests that humans and chimpanzees evolved to consume ethanol without getting drunk, as part of our ancestral diet. Until now, direct observation of chimps eating fermented fruit was rare, with this study providing valuable insights into our shared evolutionary past.
The findings challenge the idea that our taste for alcohol is a result of recent human behaviour. Instead, it appears that our ancestors, like modern chimps, consumed ethanol as part of their regular diet. Further research is needed to investigate if chimps opt to seek out or avoid fruits based on their degree of fermentation.
