Augmentation of alcohol consumption by caffeine in malnourished rats.

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Abstract
Selection of a 10% alcohol solution over water was measured in male hooded Long-Evans rats (8 groups of 6 rats each) that received caffeine (0.75 mg/ml) or quinine in both of these drinking fluids for 28 days, and were fed each day with 32 or 16 g of an adequate diet or with isocaloric amounts of an inadequate diet (23 or 11.5 g of a breakfast cereal). Caffeine increased alcohol consumption by 66% (from 4.7 to 7.8 ml) and 124% (from 2.9 to 6.5 ml), respectively, in the groups receiving 23 and 11.5 g of the inadequate diet; the maximum increase in the other groups was 6%. The percentage of total fluid consumed as alcohol solution increased from 20 to 47% and from 15 to 41%, respectively; the maximum increase among the other groups was 9%. Removal of caffeine temporarily suppressed alcohol consumpion in rats receiving an adequate diet, even though addition of caffeine was without apparent effect. The caffeine effect may have a pharmacological basis. The arguments that hungry rats drink alcohol in search of calories must be modified to consider dietary factors other than calories.

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