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Answer:

Some ripe fruits, including durian, grapes, apples, and bananas, may contain trace amounts of alcohol produced through natural fermentation.

As fruits ripen, their high sugar content can ferment, converting sugars into ethanol, the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. Durian, in particular, contains a large amount of sugar and tends to ferment quickly once ripe, which can lead to the presence of small amounts of alcohol. Some fermented foods may also naturally contain alcohol.

However, the amount of alcohol found in fruits is extremely small and not comparable to directly consuming alcoholic beverages. Eating durian does not impair a person’s ability to operate a vehicle, even if traces of alcohol can be detected in the breath.

To be safe, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water several times and drink plenty of fluids. This will remove any sugar and alcohol residue that may remain between the teeth and in the mouth. You should then wait for 15-30 minutes to allow any trace alcohol associated with the fruit to dissipate completely.

In the unlikely event that you are stopped immediately after eating fruits and a breathalyzer detects alcohol, you have the right to explain to law enforcement officers that you have just consumed fruits such as durian, lychee, or rambutan.

You may ask to wait for 15 – 20 minutes and rinse your mouth with water before taking the test again.

You can also estimate how long it could take your body to eliminate alcohol by using calculation tools that take into account the amount consumed and personal factors.

In reality, there is no universally accurate answer to how long after drinking alcohol it is safe to drive. The time required depends on both the quantity consumed and an individual’s metabolism. People with impaired liver function or slower metabolic rates may take significantly longer to process alcohol.

Health experts recommend that men consume no more than two standard drinks per day and women no more than one standard drink per day, and not drink on more than five days a week.

One standard drink, equivalent to three-quarters of a 330 ml bottle or can of beer (5% alcohol), a 330 ml glass of draft beer, a 100 ml glass of wine (13.5% alcohol), or a 30 ml serving of spirits (40% alcohol), contains around 10 grams of pure alcohol.

Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Duy Thinh of the Institute of Food Technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology.