The effect of acute administration of ethanol was determined on plasma lipoproteins and post-heparin lipolytic activities in six normal subjects. Ethanol was administered intravenously (IV) in a dose of 0.6 g/kg body weight over 1 hour and blood samples were obtained for 4 hours thereafter. In four subjects, the determinations were repeated after the infusion of an isovolumetric amount of saline. Ethanol resulted in a rapid increase in plasma triglycerides, which persisted throughout the study. Ethanol did not result in changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, or apolipoprotein administration of heparin. The increase in triglycerides without changes in HDL-cholesterol after acute ethanol administration may contribute to an increased severity of cardiovascular disease in binge drinkers.