After 7 day's gradual introduction of ethanol, rats were maintained for a further 4 weeks on a liquid diet containing 10% ethanol (mean daily dose 11.8 +/- 0.2 g/kg/day). Control-treated rats received liquid diet alone. Pairs of rats were tested in the social interaction test of anxiety 8 h after withdrawal. Withdrawal from ethanol significantly reduced the time spent in social interaction compared with controls, indicating an anxiogenic withdrawal response. Nitrendipine (50 mg/kg) had no effect on, whereas flumazenil (4 mg/kg) significantly reversed, this withdrawal response. This reversal appeared to be long-lasting as there was still no evidence of increased anxiety when rats were again withdrawn after 3 more days of ethanol diet.