Functionalized polymer membranes have been used as sensor materials for fabrication of electronic tongue. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a novel poly(N-[4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl]acrylamide) (PNTA) for liquid phase aliphatic alcohol sensing in the form of membranes prepared after blending with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Three PNTA-PVC based membranes were prepared for sensing of six aliphatic alcohols. Polymer membranes were characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Polar groups on PNTA molecules contribute to the alcohol sensing characteristics. The membrane electric potential, generated by the interaction between membrane surface and aqueous aliphatic alcohols, was monitored with the developed multi-channel electrode based prototype sensing system (MEBPSS). The polymer membranes showed distinct and repeatable response patterns toward different aliphatic alcohols. Among them PNTA-PVC12 membrane showed maximum discrimination ability due to the PNTA molecules on the membrane surface with highest charge density as ascertained from field emission scanning electron microscopic studies. V C 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44675.