Wild chimpanzees have been discovered eating ripened fruit such as figs and plums in Uganda and Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in Africa. What is noteworthy about this practice is that these fruits contain ethanol or pure alcohol.
A research team decided to measure how much alcohol these chimps were actually ingesting. Based on the amount of fruit they usually eat, the apes were found to be taking in around 14 grams of ethanol. That amount is roughly equal to one 330ml bottle of lager or beer. The fruits most commonly consumed were those highest in alcohol content.
Scientists were quick to connect the human love of alcohol to this attraction for fermented fruit by our supposed primate ancestor. "Human attraction to alcohol probably arose from this dietary heritage of our common ancestor with chimpanzees," said study researcher Aleksey Maro of the U. of California, Berkeley.
This study was said to support the so-called “drunken monkey” hypothesis. This is the belief that the human love of alcohol was inherited from our alleged apelike ancestors. This idea was proposed by Prof. Robert Dudley of California, Berkeley. Dudley was a co-researcher of this study.
At first scientists were skeptical of this conclusion. But more observations of ape behavior have tended to support it. "What we're realizing from this work is that our relationship with alcohol goes deep back into evolutionary time, probably about 30 million years," Prof Catherine Hobaiter, a primatologist at the University of St Andrews, said.
Dr. Kimberly Hockings of the U. of Exeter pointed out that the chimpanzees in the study were not taking in enough alcohol to make them drunk. There was a good evolutionary reason for that. Had they done so, "this would clearly not improve their survival chances," she said.
Comment: This story is more evidence that mainstream scientists will often see an evolutionary connection whenever they can. There really isn’t much actual evidence for an alleged “human ancestor” of humans and apes. Live Science admits that “scientists don't have any remains of this enigmatic creature.” To get some idea what it might have looked like, this website says we must focus on gorillas and chimps, the “closest equivalents alive today.” But they are close only in appearance, not in ancestry.
If Dr. Hockings is correct, chimps must be more intelligent than humans. She says that the chimps in the study weren’t getting drunk, and the reason for this was to not hurt their survival chances. But plenty of humans get seriously drunk. So inebriated men and women must not be that concerned about surviving.
Some Christians believe it is sinful for us to consume any amount or kind of alcohol, but the Bible cannot be used to support this belief. 1 Timothy 5:23 says, “Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent sicknesses.” And Jesus, of course, served wine at the Last Supper.
But the Bible leaves no doubt about the sinfulness of getting intoxicated. Ephesians 5:18: "And do not get drunk on wine, which causes you to lose control. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." 1 Peter 4:3: "Indeed, you have already spent enough time in the past doing what the Gentiles want to do: living in unbridled immorality, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and disgusting idolatry."
God designed apes to enjoy fermented figs and plums, which they apparently can eat without harming themselves. God also designed humans to enjoy and benefit from fruits like these, but He has also given us the wisdom (which we don’t always use) to not abuse alcohol. We should seek help if we do.
I could not find any references to food or alcohol in heaven, but Jesus does say about Himself “I am the Bread of Life. … The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty” John 6:35.
And there will be water, living water, in heaven. “for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” Revelation 7:17.
by Warren Krug
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
How many people 62 or older take five or more prescription medications regularly?
Some thirty-six percent of people ages 62 and older take five or more prescription medications regularly. “You’re likely to run into at least one issue, whether it’s trouble swallowing them, forgetting them, or experiencing uncomfortable side effects,” said one physician.
Source: “Take Your Meds More Easily,” Consumer Reports On Health [August, 2025], page 4.
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