To provide an improved fuel cell to be operated by an alcoholic fuel.

An anode is separated from a cathode 3 by an ion selective polymer electrolyte membrane 2. In use, an alcoholic fuel is supplied to the anode region of a cell and an oxidant is supplied to the cathode region of the cell. A non-volatile redox couple is being given in a solution in flowing fluid communication with the cathode in the cathode region. The redox couple is at least partially reduced at the cathode, and subsequently at least partially regenerated by reaction with an oxidant in a cathode gas reaction chamber 5. The redox couple and/or the concentration of the redox couple in the solution of a cathode liquid is selected to allow a current density generated by a cell in operation not to be substantially affected by crossover of the alcoholic fuel over a polymer electrolyte membrane from the anode region to the cathode region. The redox couple includes a transition metal complex with polyoxometalate chemical species as a ligand.