Do Animals Get Drunk?
They do. A lot. Butterflies, for instance, enjoy a good brew. Males likely drink beer to boost their spermatophores, nutrient-rich packages that they give to females as a nuptial gift. Other insects turn to drink when they're sexually rejected. The unmated males preferred food containing alcohol, while the mated males did not. Further study showed that mated males had higher levels ofa brain chemicalcalled neuropeptide F, which may spike when the fly receives a reward—like sex.