Direct measurements of the optical absorption coefficients of the short-lived electrons in polar fluids have been made. Laser-induced photoionization of pyrene in alcohols at 293 K generated equal numbers of electrons (e s −) and pyrene positive ions (P +). The ϵ max(e s −) were derived by measuring the relative absorption intensities of e s − and P +, which had been independently characterised. The ϵ max values for e s − in methanol to 1-decanol fell within the range (1.0–2.0) × 10 4 M −1 cm −1, the implications of which are discussed.