1. The magnitude of the variability of ethanol absorption is an important factor for studies that seek to determine the significance of potential interactions between ethanol and drugs. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of inter- and intra-individual variability of ethanol concentration-time profiles in fasted and fed subjects. 2. Twenty-four healthy male subjects were randomized to receive ethanol 0.3 g kg-1 before an evening meal on two study days and ethanol 0.3 g kg-1 after an evening meal on two study days. Plasma ethanol concentrations were measured at intervals from 0-240 min. 3. There were significant differences in the mean area under the ethanol concentration-time curve (AUC), the mean peak ethanol concentration (Cmax), the mean ethanol elimination slope and the time to peak ethanol concentration between the fed and fasted subjects. There were no significant differences between the first and second study days for either fed or fasting subjects for all parameters. 4. There was no statistically significant difference in inter- or intra-subject variance between fed and fasted studies although the coefficients of variation (standard deviation expressed as a percentage of the mean) for the differences between the first and second study day were higher for fed studies. 5. The large inter- and intra-individual variability of alcohol absorption for both fasted and fed subjects must be considered in the design of alcohol-drug interaction studies.