Ethanol Drinking by Vervet Monkeys (Cercopithecus pygerethrus): Individual Responses of Juvenile and Adult Males

Unrestricted access of vervet monkeys to a palatable solution of ethanol resulted in chronic intake or abstinence. Self‐selected dose averaged 4.42 g/kg body mass/day. Growth of juveniles was not grossly affected. In plasma, chronic ethanol intake was associated with lower average K and Cl values, increased gamma glutamyl transpeptidase in some adults, and higher average total cholesterol. Neither hepatic histology nor haematology were affected by chronic ethanol intake.