Unbelievable but true: a court in Bruges has now acquitted a man who was twice caught “drunk” while driving his car. The increased blood alcohol level apparently had medical reasons.
The defendant suffers from the so-called autobrewery syndrome (ABS), which is sometimes caused by intestinal problems, Belgian media report. It is an extremely rare disease in which the body produces alcohol itself, according to the man’s lawyer.
In those affected, liver-damaging alcohols are produced in the body, leading to the self-generated alcoholization of the affected person. Three doctors independently confirmed the diagnosis, the lawyer explained to the Guardian.
Significantly increased blood alcohol content
The 40-year-old employee of a brewery in Bruges was previously found to have an increased alcohol content during traffic checks in April and May 2022. He therefore had 2.1 and 1.6 per mille of alcohol in his blood and was subsequently charged, the newspaper De Standaard reports.
Although people with ABS can produce the same type of alcohol as alcoholic beverages, they generally feel significantly less of its effects. However, this is not a congenital disease, but an acquired disease. Patients may exhibit symptoms consistent with alcohol poisoning, such as slurred speech, stumbling, loss of motor skills, dizziness, and belching.
Source: Krone
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