Saliva can be suitable biological material for assessment of the ethanol level, in particular in those subjects who for various reasons refuse to have blood samples taken. This statement is based on the results of a trail in 123 subjects. Probands were given alcoholic beverages in amounts that the ethanol level--with regard to the danger of intolerance--if possible did not exceed 1.5 g.kg-1 in the blood stream. Approximately 90 mins. after ingestion of the alcoholic beverage, i.e. during the postabsorptive stage blood and saliva specimens were collected assessment of the ethanol level. Comparison of ethanol levels in blood and saliva revealed in 78 subjects identical levels. In 40 subjects there was a difference of +/- 0.1 g.kg-1 and only in five subjects ther was a difference of +/- 0.2 g.kg-1. These differences can be considered negligible with regard to hitherto used estimates of the ethanol level in other biological materials. From the experiment it is also apparent that the ethanol level does not change substantially when saliva is stored for periods up to 6 days when the final examination be mode.