Specialists are cautioning people about consuming six popular holiday desserts this Christmas, warning that doing so could potentially result in legal trouble.
Christmas food is often one of the biggest joys of the holiday season. However, it turns out that desserts may require a bit of caution, especially if you want to avoid any serious legal trouble.
Christmas fills millions of homes around the world with long-standing traditions. Every family celebrates a little differently. Some have rules about when the tree goes up, others about the timing of Christmas dinner, or even the exact moment gifts are opened.
Unfortunately, not everything about Christmas is positive. For some, the holiday comes with excessive alcohol use, which can have harmful effects, especially on children. It is worth keeping that in mind during the festivities. Drinking responsibly or choosing not to drink at all is always a safer option, and there are plenty of enjoyable non-alcoholic choices available.
If alcohol is part of your celebrations, getting behind the wheel afterward is obviously never acceptable. What many people do not realize, though, is that alcohol can enter your system even if you never take a sip.
An expert has now issued a warning that may surprise many people. Eating certain Christmas desserts before driving could potentially put you at risk of a DUI, because some sweets contain alcohol. In the United States, this could depend on the legal limit in your specific state.
Why eating these six Christmas desserts could get you arrested
Car cleaning expert Ash Young explained the issue to Unilad, saying that while most people understand that drink driving is illegal, fewer are aware of how much alcohol can be hidden in food. He noted that although these desserts are unlikely to push someone far beyond the limit, they can still sometimes set off a breathalyzer.
He added that during Christmas, when alcohol-infused foods are everywhere, people need to be more mindful. No one wants to risk losing their driver’s license just because they enjoyed a few rum-filled treats.
So which desserts should you be careful with? One example is the traditional French pastry Canelés de Bordeaux, which contains rum. Even though it is baked and much of the alcohol burns off, Unilad reports that roughly 25 to 40 percent of the alcohol can still remain.
Another well-known holiday dessert is Christmas pudding, which is often soaked in brandy. English trifle and tiramisu may also include alcohol, as can mince pies, which sometimes contain brandy as well.
The final and most obvious example is chocolate liqueurs. Ash Young advises waiting at least 15 to 20 minutes after eating alcohol-containing desserts before driving. He also suggests using a personal breathalyzer at home, if available, to be extra cautious.
Please consider sharing this information with friends and family so everyone stays informed. Merry Christmas.
