As it turns out, chimpanzees also enjoy happy hour. Or, should we say, hape-y hour?
A study by England’s University of Exeter produced the first footage of wild chimps consuming and sharing the fermented African breadfruit, which contains alcohol. A press release posits that the finding “raises fascinating questions about if and why chimps deliberately seek out alcohol.”
“For humans, we know that drinking alcohol leads to a release of dopamine and endorphins, and resulting feelings of happiness and relaxation,” says researcher Anna Bowland. “We also know that sharing alcohol – including through traditions such as feasting – helps to form and strengthen social bonds. So – now we know that wild chimpanzees are eating and sharing ethanolic fruits – the question is: could they be getting similar benefits?”
The study notes that chimps consuming breadfruit probably won’t get drunk like humans might. For one, getting hammered isn’t a safe choice for wild animals with predators. Plus, the highest measured ABV of the breadfruit is .61% — for reference, a can of Bud Light is about 4.2% ABV.
Researchers do note, though, that given the fruit-heavy diet of chimps, they could be consuming a more significant amount of alcohol than the breadfruit’s low ABV would indicate.
If nothing else, chimps consuming alcohol should slow them in turning Earth into the planet of the apes.