The adsorption of methanol on an oxygen-covered Zn (0001) surface has been studied using ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). At 160 K, methanoi is adsorbed partially-dissociatively to form methoxy species (Cr 3O). The preadsorbed oxygen abstracts a hydrogen from CH 3OH to form CH 3O and OH species. Oxidation of methoxy species into CO or CHO species does not proceed. The methoxy species are completely removed by heating at > 250K via inverting the process of adsorption.