Ticks are a major group of ectoparasites of livestock. A study was conducted to determine the efficacy of locally brewed alcoholic beverage (areki) against ticks on cattle. A sample of 285 cattle owners were purposively selected from the study area. Experiment 1 was a spray of the test materials on affected body parts of animals (150 ml per animal). Treatments include untreated (negative control), areki, and commercial acaricide (positive control). Before spray, each animal was inspected for tick infestation, and the number, growth stage of the ticks was recorded including risk factors (age, sex, health status, feed status, size). Experiment 2 was a toxicity bioassay test of ticks, with four dilution levels with water, i.e., 100%, 50%, 25% and 0% areki by volume. In experiment 1, areki and the commercial acaricide were equally effective. Significantly more live ticks were found on the control and more dead ticks on acaricide and areki. All dilutions were effective in the toxicity bioassay test. In contrast to dead ticks, live tick numbers after spray did not vary with respect to animal health status, body size, sex, breed type, feed supply, and residence (rural and urban). According to the regression analysis, some of the study sites, type of breeds, feed supply, health status of the animal, and spray treatments played significant role in the mortality of ticks (encouraging or discouraging mortality). In general, the current study showed that areki was a promising product for the management of ticks on cattle in Woldia area of Ethiopia.