A headspace gas chromatographic method using a fused-silica capillary column Poraplot Q has been developed and validated for the detection and quantification of ethanol in urine. Under optimized conditions, ethanol was properly separated from acetaldehyde, acetone, isopropanol, methanol and n-propanol. Limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were 0.008 and 0.010 g/l, respectively. The precision studies within-run and between-run, using spiked urine samples (0.08, 0.8 and 2.0 g/l) showed maximum coefficients of variation 5.9 and 6.5%, respectively. Results of ethanol recovery varied from 91.6+/-0.8 to 103.3+/-1.8% over the concentration range from 0.01 to 3.20 g/l. The method was appropriate for the detection of ethanol in urine samples. This matrix can be used for monitoring alcohol abuse in the workplace and used in alcohol rehabilitation programs.