Formaldehyde is not a byproduct of ethanol metabolism. Acetaldehyde is the chemical 'equivalent' metabolic byproduct in the pathway that eliminates ethanol. I

Formaldehyde is not a byproduct of ethanol metabolism. Acetaldehyde is the chemical 'equivalent' metabolic byproduct in the pathway that eliminates ethanol. In common alcohol/liquor for drinking there may be trace amounts of methanol (less true than historically, but still occurs), and that may be what you're thinking.