23 April 2024 , 14:08
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A Belgian man whose body produces its own alcohol has been cleared of drink-driving - after it was revealed he has a rare condition called auto-brewery syndrome (ABS).
Lawyer Anse Ghesquiere said on Monday that in "another unfortunate coincidence" her client worked at a brewery - but the three doctors who examined him independently have confirmed he has ABS.
In the verdict, the judge emphasised that the defendant does not experience symptoms of intoxication as a result of the rare condition, according to Belgian media.
The man, who has not been named, in line with local jurisdiction has now been acquitted by Bruges police court. Clinical biologist with the Belgian hospital AZ Sint-Lucas, Lisa Florin, said people who have ABS produce the same type of alcohol as what you get in drinks like beer and wine, but they feel far less of its effects.
People are not born with ABS but they can develop it by having another intestine-related condition. Symptoms include those that are very aligned with being drunk, like slurred speech, dizziness, loss of motor functions, and stumbling.
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In the verdict the judge emphasised that the defendant does not experience symptoms of intoxication as a result of the rare condition (Getty Images)Those with ABS have shared what it's like in the past, including Nick Carson, who can ge t blind drunk from eating a slice of cake without him touching a drop of alcohol. It often means Nick, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, craves stodgy Victoria Sponge cake - which then leaves him so sozzled he can pass out - the same way an alcoholic would crave a drink.
The cleaning business owner developed the condition after being exposed to strong chemicals at work almost 20 years ago - but it took years until he was finally diagnosed after wife Karen saw the condition on an episode of Doc Martin. He said: "Having a little bit of sugar or carbohydrates can quickly make me become drunk. I try to stick to a Keto-based diet but it's hard because there are carbs in all sorts of foods.
"I can go from being stone-cold sober to being three times the driving limit in minutes which is quite scary. The effect isn’t pleasant and I have sections of my memory where I have no idea what I’ve done.
"I just talk rubbish and walk around in circles. It's like sleepwalking with activities - you're not aware of what you're up to even though you're still functioning and doing stuff. One time I tried a small portion of low fat chips and I became so intoxicated that I lay in the living room, throwing up, before eventually passing out within 45 minutes of eating."