Trending Now - Bees and Hummingbirds Found Consuming Alcohol in Nectar

WHO:

University of California, Berkeley biologists

WHAT:

Conducted a broad analysis of the alcohol content in flower nectars

Detected alcohol in at least one flower of 26 out of 29 species of plants tested

Found one sample containing 0.056% ethanol by weight, equivalent to about 1/10 proof

Noted that pollinators like hummingbirds consume human-equivalent amounts of alcohol without signs of intoxication

WHERE:

Analysis conducted at University of California, Berkeley

WHEN:

Analysis published in 2026

WHY:

Suggests a surprising evolutionary tolerance to alcohol in pollinators

HOW:

Analysis involved testing the alcohol content of flower nectars from various plant species, with most samples showing low levels of alcohol likely from yeast fermentation

(UPDATED March 26, 2026 00:39 UTC)

Biologists at the University of California, Berkeley have conducted a broad analysis of the alcohol content in flower nectars, revealing that at least one flower from 26 out of 29 plant species tested contained alcohol. One sample even showed a level of 0.056% ethanol by weight, which is roughly equivalent to about one-tenth of proof, and the researchers noted that pollinators like hummingbirds consume these human-equivalent amounts of alcohol without any signs of intoxication. This study, published in 2026, suggests a surprising evolutionary tolerance to alcohol in these important pollinators.