A difference in ethanol metabolism between premature and young adult rats was examined. Female SD rats, either 4wk or 12wk old, were injected with a single dose of ethanol (1.5g /kg) through jugular vein and the blood ethanol level was monitored for 300 min using a gas chromatographic method. Reduction of blood ethanol level per unit of time was less and the area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC) was significantly greater in young adults compared to premature rats. Activity of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase was not influenced by the age increase. Total cytochrome P-450, cytochrome $b_5$. or aminopyrine N-demethylation was not different between premature rats and young adult rats. However, p-nitrophenol hydroxylation and p-nitroanisole O-demethylation activities were significantly higher in premature rats. The relative liver weight was 45% greater in premature rats leading to an overall increase in ethanol metabolizing activity in these animals. The results indicate that the reduction in ethanol elimination in young adult rats appears to be mostly associated with the decrease in relative liver weight as the age of animals increases.