Answer:

According to manufacturers, 0-alcohol beer is a product from which all alcohol has been extracted, or brewed to contain an alcohol content below the permissible limit. For truly alcohol-free beer, with an alcohol concentration of 0.0%, drinking it will not cause intoxication and will not register any alcohol concentration on a breathalyzer, regardless of the quantity consumed.

However, many types of beer labeled "0-alcohol" may still contain a very low alcohol concentration, around 0.05%. If subjected to a specialized breathalyzer test, this could still result in a positive reading and a violation. In Vietnam, drivers of cars, motorcycles, and motorbikes are not permitted to have any alcohol in their blood. Furthermore, after consuming any alcoholic beverages, it is essential to allow sufficient time for all alcohol to be eliminated from the bloodstream before driving.

Drinking 0-alcohol beer can still result in alcohol concentration. Photo: Thu Anh.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an alcohol unit as follows: One alcohol unit is equivalent to 10 grams of pure ethanol, which corresponds to 200 ml of beer, 75 ml of wine (one glass), or 25 ml of spirits (one shot). The number of alcohol units consumed depends on the quantity of beverage ingested.

On average, a healthy adult's liver eliminates one alcohol unit per hour. This duration can vary depending on an individual's physical condition. Approximately 10-15% of alcohol is eliminated through the respiratory system, skin, and sweat, while about 85-90% is processed by the liver.

Readers can refer to the formula for calculating the body's alcohol elimination time.

Doctor Nguyen Huy Hoang

Association of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine