Food deprivation-induced alcohol ingestion in the mouse: calories versus primary sensory preference

Random bred Swiss mice showed preference for water over 10% ethanol solution when unlimited food was available. When partially food deprived, the preference was reversed in 5 out of 8 animals. About half of the naive mice, however, ingested substantial amounts of this ethanol solution at the very first exposure when partially food deprived for 12 days. It is suggested that while the caloric value of ethanol is reinforcing, food deprivation might make the sensory effects of ethanol also reinforcing.