A Belgium man has been acquitted of drunk driving because he has auto brewery syndrome, a rare medical condition in which the digestive system produces ethanol (alcohol) internally.

The man’s lawyer, Anse Ghesquiere, informed Reuters that her client, whose identity remains undisclosed, faced legal ramifications after being pulled over by authorities for suspected intoxication. 

“In another unfortunate coincidence,” stated Ghesquiere, “her client works at a brewery.” 

Three separate medical professionals independently examined him, confirming the presence of ABS.

The 40-year old man was stopped by police in April 2022. He was found to have a blood-alcohol level more than four times the legal limit. Just a month later, he was pulled over again, registering over three times the limit.

This marked the third time the individual had faced such charges, having previously been fined for driving under the influence in 2019. Shockingly, he was unaware of his condition, A.B.S., until his most recent offence.

Auto Brewery Syndrome manifests when certain gut microorganisms ferment carbohydrates into alcohol, leading to elevated blood alcohol levels without external consumption. Despite exhibiting symptoms akin to intoxication, individuals with ABS have not consumed alcohol.