Every other day for 2 wk male golden hamsters were allowed access to saccharin-flavored water (0.1% wt/vol) for 20 min; 5 min later 6 animals were injected with 1.17 g of alcohol/kg body wt, 5 animals with 1.76 g/kg as 14.7% (vol/vol) solutions and 5 animals with a volume of saline equal to the higher dose of alcohol. An unpaired control group of 5 animals was injected with 1.76 g of alcohol/kg 15 h after access to the saccharin solution. On the noninjection days all animals had 20 min access to tap water. All alcohol-injected animals showed locomotor disruption although none were comatose. There were no significant effects due to alcohol on either saccharin or water intake; saccharin intake declined in all groups (P < .01). During the next 25 days all groups had continuous access to both plain and saccharin-flavored water; bottle positions were alternated. The high dose of alcohol resulted in a significant and long-lasting aversion to saccharin (P < .01) and the low dose in a significant aversion (P < .01) which was extinguished quite rapidly. The unpaired control group drank more saccharin solution than did the saline group although the latter''s intake increased steadily. Alcohol was an effective agent in forming a conditioned taste aversion in golden hamsters.