Can gut bacteria make you drunk? New research explains rare 'auto-brewery syndrome'

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By Olivia Bowthorpe

Gut bacteria may be responsible for alcohol intoxication in people who have not been drinking, according to new research that sheds light on the biological basis of auto-brewery syndrome, a rare and often disputed condition.

The condition, known as ABS, can sound implausible, and patients can face serious social, medical and legal consequences before being diagnosed.