1Med Sci Law 2005; 45:196–200.
A study was undertaken of blood and urine alcohol levels in 44 cases where the bodies had been immersed in water, following accidents, for at least one day after death. In no case was there any ante-mortem evidence of ingested alcohol. In 15 cases there was a raised urine alcohol. The average urine to blood ratio in these cases was 0.56:1. This is dramatically less that seen after ingestion. It is suggested that the alcohol, following its initial post-mortem production in the abdomen, enter the urine from bodies that have not been recovered and examined until several days after death cannot always be taken to indicate ante-mortem ingestion. Urine-to-blood alcohol ratios of less than 1:1 are strongly suggestive of post-mortem production.
