The Human Body That Makes Alcohol

Auto-brewery syndrome is a rare condition where your own digestive system turns carbohydrates into pure alcohol. People with this condition can become intoxicated without ever touching a single drop of liquor.

This bizarre phenomenon occurs when high levels of yeast or bacteria in the gut ferment sugars from meals into ethanol. Because the body absorbs this internal brew directly into the bloodstream, it creates a real drunk sensation from a simple bowl of pasta. It is often misdiagnosed because patients appear intoxicated despite having no history of drinking. Scientists are still studying why certain gut biomes trigger this accidental distillery.