“FRUITY” BREATH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 484, 13 October 1928, Page 28

“FRUITY” BREATH

ALCOHOL OR APPLES?. DRUNKEN DRIVER’S EXCUSE You can get an alcoholic breath by eating oranges and apples. This came out at the Parramatta Court, Sydney, when Robert Bailie, horse trainer, was charged with driving a car while drunk, during which time he knocked down a girl on the Parramatta Road. Bailie said he was out with the Bishop of Papua and a couple of priests in the morning, and went to Canterbury in the afternoon, but he had not had a drink all day. Me had had oranges and apples for his lunch. Dr. A. R. McLeod said that he thought from the evidence that Bailie’s alcoholic breath came from the oranges and apples he had been eating. This fruit contained the same essential oils as alcohol. Mr. Williams, S.M.: So, if a person has been eating oranges the smell of his breath could be taken for that of alcohol?—Yes. But Bailie was fined £2O and ordered to pay £5 12s 6d costs. He was also suspended from holding & motor driver’s licence for two years. Other Doctors Doubtful College Street Doctor: TheoreticI ally speaking all sugar or starch | foods ferment and produce alcohol, | but in my opinion the doctor’s theory i at Court was a bit far fetched. Another Doctor: Perhaps it vaS ! whisky with orange bitters that tb€ defendant in the case was drinking- * ! think it would be easy to tell lb# I difference between the breaths of* ; man eating oranges and apples a man drinking alcohoL