Hello Robert & All, Robert wrote: Conversion of sugars to the particular alcohol (ethanol) that has proven so problematic thru history is performed by yeasts - single-cell fungi - and the resulting ethanol can be oxidised to acetic acid, the main compound characteristic of vinegar, if the bacterium _Acetobacter_ is present, e.g. brought in on the feet of fruit-flies. The word *Ethanol* brought up a subject I have wanted to do a post on for a long time. Years ago I read a article called *An Alternative for Beekeepers:Alcohol Production* The article by G.W.Hayes,Jr. of the Agriculture Technical Institue in Wooster,Ohio. A couple quotes from the article: "With the assistance of the ATI Chemistry Department personal ,some impressive results were obtained in producing small quantities of ethanol from honey." A table shows the amount of alcohol produced from Corn, Milo, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat, Cane Molasses, Beet Molasses, Barley, Cull Potatoes and Sweet Sorghum. Then the article says quote: "Compare the amount of ethanol produced from honey in table 4 to a like amount of material in table 3. This amount of clean,burnable ethanol far outdistances ANY of the agriculture product NOW in use to produce ethanol commercially." Don't we really need another use for honey besides food? Couldn't we get government funds for research with the high cost of gasoline today or is the strangle hold the oil companies have got on the U.S. to strong? Sincerely, Bob Harrison Odessa,Missouri Ps. the amount of honey consumed per person in the U.S. has remained at 1 pound versus 100 pound for sugar for as long as I can remember despite the efforts of the National Honey Board. Maybe powering our vehicles with honey/ethanol might help the U.S.beekeeper. Another buyer in the marketplace can't hurt the monopoly the honey packers enjoy at this time. Now its *sell yourself* or *sell to us*.