Humans inherited their love of alcohol from monkeys.
Researchers claim to have found proof that the long-held ‘drunken monkey’ theory is true and that humans get their passion for booze from primates gorging on fruit containing alcohol.
The theory is based on modern-day apes who are attracted by over-ripe fermented fruit and experts claim that the smell of alcohol led our ancestors to ripe and nutritious fruit millions of years ago.
Analysis of the urine from black-handed spider monkeys in Panama proves that the theory still has weight.
Professor Christina Campbell, from California State University, said: “For the first time, we have been able to show, without a shadow of a doubt, that wild primates, with no human interaction, consume fruit containing ethanol.
“This is just one study, and more needs to be done, but it looks like there may be some truth to that ‘drunken monkey’ hypothesis.”
