In the title compound, C20H22N5O(+)·Br(-)·C2H6O, the tetra-hydro-pyrimidine ring of the bicyclic cation adopts a half-chair conformation with an equatorial orientation of the phenyl and methyl substituents. The amino group is nearly coplanar with the 1,2,4-triazole ring [interplanar angle = 4.08 (8)°] and has a slightly pyramidal configuration. The mean planes of the triazole ring and the benzene ring of the phenacyl group form a dihedral angle of 88.58 (7)°. In the crystal, N-H⋯Br, N-H⋯O and O-H⋯Br hydrogen bonds link the cations, anions and ethanol mol-ecules into layers parallel to the bc plane.