Man Acquitted of Drunken Driving After Being Diagnosed with Auto-Brewery Syndrome
In a bizarre turn of events, a man in Belgium was recently acquitted of a drunken driving offense after it was discovered that his body was essentially brewing its own alcohol. The 40-year-old brewery worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, was pulled over by police and given a breathalyzer test, which showed his blood alcohol level was more than four times the legal limit for drivers.
However, further tests administered by three doctors confirmed that the man was not a heavy drinker, but rather had a rare condition known as auto-brewery syndrome (A.B.S.). This disorder causes a person’s gut to ferment carbohydrates into ethanol, effectively creating alcohol inside the body. The man had been unknowingly living with this condition for years, leading to multiple instances of being pulled over and fined for driving under the influence.
His lawyer, Anse Ghesquiere, stated that her client was relieved to finally have a diagnosis and is now following a strict diet and receiving medical treatment to manage the condition and prevent future flare-ups. While only a few dozen people worldwide have been formally diagnosed with A.B.S., recent studies suggest that the condition may be more common than previously thought.
Cases like this highlight the challenges faced by individuals with auto-brewery syndrome, who may exhibit signs of intoxication without actually consuming alcohol. The disorder can lead to dangerously high blood-alcohol levels, even reaching potentially fatal levels in some cases. Despite the skepticism and confusion surrounding A.B.S., medical experts have long recognized the existence of this strange and puzzling condition.
