Urinary excretion of catecholamines and their metabolites were determined in alcoholic subjects during chronic ethanol ingestion and after alcohol withdrawal. A dose response relationship was found between magnitude of blood alcohol levels and increased excretion of epinephrine, metanephrine, norepinephrine and noremetanephrine. Maximal excretion of epinephrine occurred when subjects developed withdrawal signs and symptoms after they had stopped drinking. A significant decrease in excretion of VMA and a concomitant increase in MHPG excretion occurred when subjects were drinking. These data indicate that chronic ethanol ingestion is associated with both stimulation of adrenergic activity and alteration in pathways of catecholamine catabolism.