Eight healthy probands received 1.0 to 1.3 g ethanol per kg body weight within a period of 30 minutes. The average hourly elimination rate of ethanol during the postresorptive phase was found to be 0.18 g/l. No significant increase in the elimination rate was seen either after administration of 200 mg metoprolol per day in slow release form for a period of one week, or after a single dose of 200 mg metoprolol in standard formulation taken at the beginning of ethanol ingestion. On the other hand, long-term administration of metoprolol resulted in a steeper rise and a delayed decrease of blood alcohol concentration. Simultaneous intake of metoprolol and of alcohol in high dosage should be avoided.