The interaction between voluntary alcohol consumption and dietary choice.

The influence of forced and voluntary alcohol intake on the choice by AA (heavy drinking) and ANA (light drinking) rats between carbohydrate, protein and fat was studied. Alcohol consumption reduced the carbohydrate intake but did not influence the total energy consumption. In AA rats on free choice, voluntary alcohol intake correlated negatively with carbohydrate consumption but positively with protein and water intake. It was also found that the day to day variation in alcohol intake was of the same order as those in carbohydrate, protein and water intake and smaller than that in fat consumption. These findings in addition to earlier observations point to a regulation of alcohol intake in rats which in many respects resembles the regulation of dietary choice.