Alcohol tolerance - new article

The Lancet published a short article by a researcher from Rockefeller University in the States, on the changes in alcohol tolerance in RNY patients.

Basically, the bacteria which accumulate in the stagnant areas of our reconstructed innards now produce ethanol out of the carbohydrates we ingest.
So you've already got alcohol in your system, before you even drink a drop. 

If you get pulled over for a breathalyzer, you can blow over the limit without having had the enjoyment!
Contact me directly if you need to read the full-text.

Can you post the full text? I've read that it is possible to blow over .08 after having had a single drink, but I am very skeptical of the idea that you could blow over .08 without having had ANYTHING to drink. If that were the case, they would have to advise RNY patients to surrender their drivers licenses when they have surgery. Also, I don't understand how the remnant area could produce ethanol from the carbs as the carbs are not coming into contact with that area? This really needs further explanation.

Here's the link:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-67 36(11)61372-X/fulltext

When I met with the Nutritionist last week, she told me not to drive even after one drink after surgery. So I think they are aware of the differences in how the body metabolizes alcohol post WLS.  First I have read about the by-passed bits:

For many years, it has been known that bacteria accumulating in stagnant loops of intestine can produce ethanol from ingested carbohydrate substrates.1 Small amounts of alcohol have been detected in the blood of patients after jejunoileal bypass surgery2 and in obese women.3 Bacterial accumulation can occur in the bypassed duodenal-jejunal loop in bypassed patients, potentially resulting in production of alcohols.

Ok, after having read the article, what it says it that in some cir****tances you could blow .08 after only a single 6oz glass of wine and advises not to drive after having even one drink. This is consistent with my understanding of previous research and recommendations. It does NOT say that you might blow .08 or higher if you've had NOTHING to drink - so you don't have to worry about that. I imagine you might blow .01 or something similar to an alcohol based mouth wash without having had anything to drink if your guts happen to be particularly ethanol producing.
So the bottom line is, don't drive even after one drink - you might not feel it, but you could be at .08.

What it might mean is for those of us in graduated licensing ( or those established drivers accomanying a G 1 driver in Ontario) who have to have a 0 that it could lead to a false fail. Good to know!

Yeah, I thought of this afterward, it's interesting. The best thing you can do if you're ever stopped and asked about alcohol is to be clear and straight forward with the officer that you have not been drinking. A lot of people don't realize that officers get their 'reasonable suspicion' to do an alcohol test most of the time by the driver's own admission of drinking or by being evasive. If you say no and have no signs of intoxication, they can't just do a test anyway. However, if you're ever asked to provide a breath sample, it is always better to do it than to refuse (which is legally considered equivalent to a failed test). The worst case scenario if you haven't been drinking is a potential G1 or G2 charge which is a regulatory offence under the Highway Traffic Act that you can request a trial for. Refusing a breath sample is a criminal offense and you'll have a much, much harder time with that charge.

If this ever happens to you, please send me a pm and I can assist you or else put you in touch with people who can (depending on the jurisdiction, I'm a provincial offences Prosecutor for Toronto).

 Well! It's good to know you then, aren't you!?!

:D

This reminds me, I have to get on my highway driving to get ready for next year's test!

I know the only drink I can tolerate is smirnoff ice light, 1g sugar 1g carb, and after 1/2 a bottle I am smashed.....

That is a very interesting study.

It is a good thing I stopped drinking 10 years ago.