The single-photon absorption spectra of pure liquid methanol and ethanol have been measured for the first time, between 6 and 10.8 eV, with the help of a new technique specially developed for the detection of vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron beams normally transmitted through thin (1 +/- 0.5 mum) liquid films. The experimental results are presented and analysed with reference to the published spectrophotometric data on low-lying Rydberg states of gaseous alcohols and solid rare gases. Energy relaxation is briefly discussed in the light of the current works on water radiolysis and photolysis. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.