The rate of hydrolysis of esters of primary and secondary alcohols can be determined quickly and easily by 1H NMR in aqueous solution, provided that the water signal is suppressed by the WATR (Water Attenuation by T2 Relaxation) method. To evaluate this approach, Arrhenius plots have been constructed for hydrolysis of acetylcholine, carbachol and atropine, and the effect of pH on the hydrolysis of procaine has been determined over a limited range. The results agree well with literature values for rate constants.