Curse of brewing beer in your own belly (you can be arrested without drinking)

[C C]

https://health.howstuffworks.com/disease...-belly.htm

EXCERPT: . . . Yes, it's true. Some people brew beer in their own bellies, but it's really not as convenient as it sounds. People with this condition have been arrested for unknowingly driving under the influence of alcohol and have been accused by family members and medical professionals of being "closet drinkers."

For people afflicted with auto-brewery syndrome, the simple act of eating carb-rich foods — bagels, pasta, sugary sodas — will kick off a series of unfortunate gastrointestinal events that result in elevated blood alcohol levels.

For most people, the gastrointestinal system brews tiny levels of ethanol during the course of normal digestion. For those with auto-brewery syndrome, an overgrowth of one of several strains of common yeast or bacteria causes an extreme reaction. The condition causes the afflicted to have the signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication — even if they haven't ingested a drop of alcohol. Although rare, auto-brewery syndrome affects both adults and children and is thought to be widely undiagnosed. (MORE - details)

[Magical Realist]

My sister and I educated ourselves all about this syndrome when her husband was caught being drunk at a business meeting once at a hotel and was fired as a result. We were almost convinced of it too until he finally admitted to being a closet drinker. My sister forgave him eventually, but it was rough going there for a while.