Woman proves her body brews alcohol to beat DUI charges

Drink driving charges against a woman in New York have been dismissed after it was revealed she suffers from auto-brewery syndrome – a rare digestive condition that turns food into alcohol.

The woman recorded a blood alcohol level of more than four times the legal limit

The 35-year-old teacher was pulled over in New York last October after police received reports her Toyota Carolla was “weaving all over” the road. When pulled over and tested, she recorded a blood-alcohol level of more than four times the legal limit at 0.33%.

Police alleged that she failed several field sobriety tests, including standing on one foot and talking and turning heel-to-toe – but the woman, who has not been named, insisted she had consumed no more than three drinks in the six hours before she was pulled over.

Her lawyer, Joseph Marusak arranged to have medical professionals monitor his client for a day to ensure she did not consume alcohol and to take several blood samples for testing.

She also bought a breath test kit and blew into it every night for 18 days, registering around 0.20% every time.

After several assessments, the woman was diagnosed with auto-brewery syndrome, and was prescribed a low-carbohydrate diet that brought her symptoms under control.

Marusak told Buffalo News: “She can register a blood alcohol content that would have you or I falling down drunk, but she can function.”

Her case was dismissed, leaving her free to drive without restrictions, however prosecutors are seeking to have the charges against the woman reinstated.