Initial sensitivity and acute tolerance to ethanol were determined in a jumping test in separate groups of spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, and of Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) and salt-resistant (SR) rats. One week later, voluntary consumption of ethanol was studied in all groups. SH rats were found to be more sensitive than WKY, but there was no difference in acute tolerance development between these two strains. SH rats, however, drank significantly more alcohol than the WKY in both the two-bottle choice paradigm and the limited access model. Similarly, SS rats drank significantly more alcohol than the SR rats, although SS rats were found to be more sensitive to ethanol than SR. There was again no difference in acute tolerance development between these two strains. These observations suggest that difference in alcohol consumption in these strains cannot be accounted for by significant differences in acute tolerance or in initial sensitivity to ethanol.