'The Drunken Monkey': Why do we Drink?

The holidays are a time for celebration. For many, these celebrations include drinking alcohol. But why do we drink? And why do we sometimes drink too much?

According to Author Robert Dudley, the reason may have deeper roots than one might think.

Dudley, a professor of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, will share his research on the evolutionary origins of alcohol consumption. His fascinating work on the subject has appeared in numerous journals and in his book "The Drunken Monkey." Dudley will provide a unique perspective on today's patterns of alcohol consumption and abuse. Follow the link between the fruit-eating behavior of arboreal primates and the evolution of the sensory skills required to identify ripe and fermented fruits that contain sugar and low levels of alcohol. In addition to introducing this new theory, Dudley will touch on the medical and social impacts of alcoholism.

"I'm looking forward to learning about what predisposes us to drink alcohol. An evolutionary perspective on alcoholism is a fascinating new twist," said Exhibitions Curator Annie Holdren.