Is it possible to get intoxicated from kvass: homemade, fermented

Kvass contains a small amount of alcohol, but can it make you intoxicated and is it safe to drive after drinking it? Let’s find out with an expert.

How is kvass made?
How much alcohol does kvass contain?

How is kvass made?

Kvas is a traditional Slavic drink with deep historical roots. Its main ingredients are:

water. This is the basis of any drink, it must be clean and fresh;
bread. Traditionally, rye bread is used, which gives kvass its characteristic color and taste;
sugar. It is added to support the fermentation and sweetness of the drink;
yeast. Both brewer’s yeast and bread yeast can be used. They are essential to the fermentation process;
additional ingredients. These include honey, fruits and berries, which are added to improve the flavor of the drink.

Kvass is prepared quite simply. All ingredients in the right proportions are placed in a container – at home it can be a glass jar – and put away in a dark cool place for a few days. Then the drink is strained and, if necessary, add sugar.

The remaining sourdough from the bread can be used to prepare another kvass.

How much alcohol is contained in kvass?

Candidate of Medical Sciences, doctor-gastroenterologist of the network of clinics of expert oncology “Euroonko”

“Kvas is a traditional Russian drink that is made in a natural way. At the same time, it is much healthier than artificial sweet sodas.”

In the preparation of kvass, fermentation of bread is used, so many people are concerned about the alcohol content in this drink. In this regard, the following should be kept in mind:

1. Usually kvass contains between 0.5% and 1.5% alcohol. This depends on the duration of fermentation and the recipe.

The same amount of ethyl alcohol can be in non-alcoholic beer. And in kefir and even less – no more than 0.05%. A similar amount of substance can be contained in apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, in which fermentation processes have already begun.

Koumiss can claim to be an alcoholic drink. As a rule, it contains from 0.5% to 2.5% ethyl alcohol, but in a strong natural product, the alcohol content can reach 4%.

2. Kvas is generally well digested by the body and can aid digestion due to its lactic acid and beneficial bacteria content.

3. To become intoxicated from kvass, it is necessary to consume it in very large quantities, which is practically impossible due toits low alcohol content and rapid saturation with liquid.

4. Given the low alcohol content of kvass, there should usually be no problem driving after drinking it. However, if the drink is homemade and has a higher than standard alcohol content, it is best to refrain from driving.

It is important to remember that even a small amount of alcohol can affect your ability to drive, so you should always be cautious and use alternative means of transportation if necessary.

To summarize: theoretically, you can get intoxicated from kvass, because it still contains a small dose of alcohol. However, you will not be able to drink such an amount of drink, which will affect your condition.

It should also be taken into account that “smell” alcohol vapors can alkotester, especially if the kvass was homemade. Therefore, after drinking the drink, experts do not recommend that you immediately get behind the wheel. It is better to wait for half an hour, while the body will break down the alcohol.