00:00 A Belgian man with a rare condition that causes his body to naturally produce alcohol has been cleared of drunk driving.
00:07 The man who works at a brewery and whose identity is unknown has auto brewery syndrome.
00:14 ABS is an extremely rare condition where the body produces alcohol due to high levels of ethanol in the blood
00:22 but people who suffer from the condition generally feel less of its effects.
00:26 Though some patients with ABS may sometimes present with the same symptoms as drunkness
00:32 including slurred speech, stumbling, loss of motor functions and dizziness
00:37 ABS can lead people to fail breathalyser tests and cause legal consequences for sufferers.
00:43 Three doctors who examined the man confirmed that he had ABS
00:47 and Belgian media said that the judge had emphasised that the defendant had not been intoxicated in his ruling.
00:54 The Bruges Police Court acquitted the man on Monday.
00:58 (gentle music)
