Cantanhez National Park, Guinea-Bissau – Wild chimpanzees have been observed repeatedly ingesting and sharing naturally fermented African breadfruit containing ethanol.

This discovery marks the first documented case of wild chimpanzees consuming and sharing fermented fruit with confirmed alcohol content.

The widespread use of fermented foods and drinks by humans is linked to dietary benefits and social bonding.

A molecular adaptation in an alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme found in the common ancestor of African apes suggests that the incorporation of fermented fruit into diets has ancient origins.

Widespread plant food sharing among great apes and the recent confirmation of ethanol in various fruit species suggest that the sharing and dietary incorporation of ethanol-containing foods may be extensive.

This behavior may have played a significant and long-standing role in hominoid societies.

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