Berkley study finds chimps consume same as two glasses of wine daily

By Stephen Beech

Boozy chimps down the equivalent of two glasses of wine every day in their native habitat, according to new research.

A survey of the ethanol content of fruits eaten by the primates suggests they are "chronically exposed" to alcohol, say American scientists.

The first-ever measurements of the ethanol content of fruits available to chimpanzees in their native African habitat showed that they could "easily" consume the equivalent of more than two standard alcoholic drinks each day.

Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley , say it's not clear whether they actively seek out fruit with high ethanol levels - which are usually riper fruit with more sugars to ferment.

But the availability of ethanol in many species of fruit that they normally eat suggests