A Belgian man has been acquitted of drink-driving due to auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), according to his lawyer.
Anse Ghesquiere said Monday that in “another unfortunate coincidence” his client worked in a brewery, but three doctors who independently examined him confirmed he was ABS.
Belgian media reported that the judge said in his ruling that the defendant, who has not been named in accordance with local court custom, showed no signs of intoxication.
The Bruges police court that acquitted the man did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Lisa Florin, a clinical biologist at AZ Sint-Lucas Hospital in Belgium, says that people with ABS produce alcohol-like effects, but the effects are usually less severe.
People are not born with ABS, but they can develop it when they have other bowel-related conditions. Patients may exhibit symptoms consistent with alcoholism, such as slurred speech, stumbling, loss of motor function, dizziness, and tremors.
