We’ve all been there at one point or another – you’ve had one too many drinks at a social gathering, and while you think you can get home safely, that stumble you just had on the way to the front door says otherwise.
Many look for quick fixes for sobering up quickly, and there are no few products out there that claim to help you clear your head fast. Some swear by cold showers, others by greasy food combos that work to cleanse your system.
But the reality is that getting sober has more to do with your body’s ability to metabolize than anything you can do yourself. While some things can help perk you up a bit, only time can truly eliminate alcohol or drugs from your system.
Let’s separate fact from fiction and explore what really helps you sober up when you need to regain your composure quickly.
Common Myths About Sobering Up
Everyone has a go-to solution that they swear helps them sober up quickly. But when you try out their method, you may find that the miracle cure does nothing but make you feel worse. Why is that?
Our bodies are designed to handle alcohol in a specific way. When we drink or use drugs, our liver and kidneys work together to break down and eliminate these substances from our body. There is no quick fix that can override this natural process.
Myth 1: Just Chug Coffee
Are you tempted to reach for that cup of coffee to clear your head after drinking? While caffeine can act as a stimulant that can help make you feel more alert, it does nothing to speed up how your liver metabolizes alcohol.
In fact, there is evidence pointing to a danger in combining alcohol and caffeine, as the slight sense of being “more awake” could potentially lure you into a false sense of security. You may feel more alert at the moment, but your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) would beg to differ!
Myth 2: Cold Showers Short-Circuit Intoxication
Another common myth is that a quick cold shower can jolt you out of an alcoholic stupor. Like coffee, a blast of cold could make you feel a bit more alert at the moment, but changing your body temperature doesn’t speed up the metabolism process.
Myth 3: You Can Sweat Your Way To Sober
Here’s where there’s a kernel of truth in a myth: while a very small amount of alcohol is excreted through sweat, the vast majority still has to be metabolized the old-fashioned way.
Attempting to exercise while intoxicated – particularly when using heavy equipment or out on roads and sidewalks – can be even more dangerous, leading to dehydration and impaired coordination.
What Can Help You Feel More Sober?
While there’s no miracle method for removing alcohol from your system (other than avoiding putting it in there in the first place), there are some things you can do to help manage the symptoms.
If you are feeling intoxicated and want to help your body along in the process, here are some tips:
Get – and Stay – Hydrated
Alcohol acts as a diuretic, which means it increases urination and leaves you dehydrated. Dehydration can cause the symptoms of intoxication to last even longer.
Replacing or adding water or other non-alcoholic drinks can help counteract your dehydration and could help reduce the longer-lasting effects such as headaches and fatigue.
Have Light, Balanced Snacks
If you haven’t eaten, having a light meal with a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats can help stabilize your blood sugar levels – which often fluctuate while you are drinking. While eating won’t reduce your blood alcohol concentration, it can help you feel more steady and reduce nausea.
Get Fresh Air and Rest
Sometimes, a bit of fresh air can do wonders to help stave off the effects of intoxication. If you need to get a bit of mental clarity while drinking, sitting down outside, slowing down, and taking deep breaths can help you regain composure and make better decisions.
Never try to get home when intoxicated to rest. If you think you might be too impaired to travel, find a safe spot to sit down and rest for a bit. As your body rests, it will continue to metabolize the alcohol in your system and get you back to your old self a bit faster (and more safely.)
How Long Does it Take to Sober Up?
The average person metabolizes alcohol at a rate of about 0.015% BAC per hour. This means that if your BAC reachiens 0.08% (the legal driving limit in most states), it will take about 5-6 hours to completely rid your body of the alcohol.
But note: this is just for the average person. Depending on your age, body weight, and even your gender, you may find that your metabolism speed differs. Also, the more liver damage you’ve had over the years due to drinking, the more it can impact its ability to function properly.
When Should I Seek Medical Help?
In some cases, intoxication goes beyond impairment and can quickly become a medical emergency. Knowing the signs of alcohol poisoning can help you get help for yourself or someone else:
- A sudden sense of confusion or stupor
- Onset of vomiting
- Seizures
- Slow or irregular breathing
- Blue-tinged or pale skin
- Low body temperature
- Falling unconscious
If you notice someone exhibiting signs of alcohol poisoning, contact medical professionals immediately. Fear of the authorities catching you or others drinking inappropriately isn’t worth the risk of severe consequences or death.
The Best Way To Stay Safe? Plan Ahead and Know Your Limits
The most effective way to sober up? Know your limits, and if possible, don’t drink at all. However, if you do plan to go out drinking, make sure to have a plan in place for how to manage the symptoms of intoxication.
- Designate a sober driver before you head out drinking
- Take advantage of ride-share services or taxis safely
- Consider options to stay where you are drinking to rest off the intoxication
- Set limits on how much you’ll drink, and ask a friend to help you stick to them
- Eat a substantial meal before drinking
- Track your drinks and work on pacing yourself
There’s no magic bullet for instant sobriety, and trying to “push through” intoxication only puts yourself and others in danger. Your body works at its own speed to metabolize alcohol, and the best way to avoid the worst is to slow down and limit your intake.
If you find that you regularly need to “sober up quickly” or that drinking is interfering with your responsibilities or relationships, it might be time to consider whether your relationship with alcohol is healthy. At United Recovery Project, we can help you on the path to a better relationship with alcohol.
Contact our team today to learn ways to help yourself and others manage your alcohol intake in a healthy way. The first step to sobriety starts today.
