PURPOSE: To provide a catalytic combustion type alcohol sensor which can detect alcohol vapor highly accurately without being adversely influenced by the coexistence of other flammable gases such as methane gas, hydrogen gas or the like and the coexistence of steam.

CONSTITUTION: A catalytic combustion type alcohol sensor uses a gas detecting element 71d and a temperature compensating element as one unit. The alcohol sensor consists of the gas detecting element holding copper oxide to an active alumina carrier and the temperature compensating element comprised only of an active alumina carrier. A catalytic combustion method alcohol sensor using a gas detecting part and a temperature compensating part as one unit consists of a gas detecting part 70d and a temperature compensating part 70c. In the gas detecting part 70d, the gas detecting element 71d carrying one catalyst 74 of copper oxide, platinum and palladium to a carrier 73 fixed to a temperature measuring resistance body 72 is welded to a pin 76 secured to a base 75, which is coated with a double wire netting 77. Tone temperature compensating part 70c has the same gas detecting element 71d which is coated with a double wire netting 77 and an active carbon filter 78 filled in the wire netting 77.