We have previously shown that chronic ethanol administration enhances brain 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis by increasing the availability of circulating tryptophan to the brain secondary to the decreased liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity. We now find that ethanol enhances the brain metabolism of a tryptophan load by the same mechanism. The results are discussed in relation to ethanol preference and the need for further clinical work on the effects of alcoholism on tryptophan metabolism.