Wild Chimps’ Boozy Fruit Feasts with Friends Highlight Evolutionary Origins of Human Pub Socializing

Wild Chimps Enjoy ‘Boozy’ Fruit, Hinting at Evolutionary Roots of Social Drinking

Brits aren’t the only ones who love a social drink—wild chimpanzees do too! A groundbreaking study from the University of Exeter reveals chimpanzees in Guinea-Bissau’s Cantanhez National Park feasting on fermented fruit, offering clues about the origins of human social bonding over alcohol.

Chimps’ Tipsy Treats

For the first time, researchers filmed wild chimps eating and sharing fermented African breadfruit, which contains up to 0.61% alcohol by volume (ABV). While low compared to human drinks, this could be the “tip of the iceberg,” as 60–85% of their diet is fruit, potentially leading to significant alcohol intake.

Chimps in Guinea-Bissau’s Cantanhez National Park share alcohol-containing fruit (Credit: University of Exeter).

Social Bonding, Just Like Humans?

The study suggests alcohol consumption may enhance social connections among chimps, mirroring human behavior. “Sharing alcohol—like feasting—helps form social bonds in humans. Chimps might experience similar benefits,” said co-author Anna Bowland. Dopamine and endorphins released during drinking could promote relaxation and bonding in primates.

Humans aren’t alone in enjoying social drinks—chimps might share the habit (Stock image).

Evolutionary Clues to Feasting

Researchers observed chimps sharing fermented fruit on 10 occasions—a rare behavior, as they typically don’t share food. Dr. Kimberley Hockings noted this could signal the early stages of “feasting” traditions rooted in our shared evolutionary history. “If chimps intentionally seek ethanol, it suggests human feasting has deep origins,” she explained.

Future Research

The team plans long-term studies to determine if chimps deliberately seek alcohol and how it affects their social interactions. Published in Current Biology, the findings highlight the need to explore alcohol’s role in primate social dynamics, including intentional consumption and its metabolic impacts.

Researchers aim to study how alcohol influences chimp social behavior over time (Credit: University of Exeter).

While questions remain, this tipsy discovery offers a fascinating glimpse into how our love of social drinking might have evolved—one fermented fruit at a time.

Read more: Study in Current Biology

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