Driver with rare car disease acquitted of drink driving

A Belgian driver with an extremely rare disease that causes the body to produce its own alcohol had drink driving charges dismissed this week.

As reported by ABC NewsThe 40-year-old Belgian man suffered from auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), which causes carbohydrates in the stomach to ferment and increase ethanol levels in the blood, leading to signs of intoxication.

The man, who has not been named in accordance with local judicial customs, was arrested in April 2022 and registered a breath test result of 0.91 milligrams of alcohol per liter, then 0.71 mg/l in a private reading a month later.

For reference, the legal limit in Belgium is 0.22 milligrams per liter of exhaled air, equivalent to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.5 g per liter.

The gentleman’s lawyer, Anse Ghesquiere, said Reuters that her client also worked at a brewery in “another unfortunate coincidence”, even though the driver’s medical condition had been confirmed by three independent doctors.

According to information reported by Belgian media ABC NewsThe judge overseeing the case “emphasized that the defendant showed no symptoms of intoxication.”

Furthermore, the court found that there were unforeseen factors applicable in this case and the Belgian gentleman was acquitted.

The driver appeared to be unaware of his condition before being stopped by police.

Ms. Ghesquiere told the newspaper that she and her client were still waiting for official confirmation of the charges being dropped, although she noted that the prosecution has a month to appeal the ruling if they decide to do so. so.

Meanwhile, the driver is said to be “following a light carbohydrate diet to avoid his stomach secreting more alcohol”.