A lot of people do a little extra drinking during the winter months – and there’s nothing wrong with that, so long as you do it responsibly and don’t drink and drive.
Unfortunately, people often rely a bit too much on the things they hear about how to “sober up fast.” Here are some of the worst myths around:
1. Coffee and a cold shower will do it.
Friends might offer you a cup of strong coffee and/or a cold shower if they’re trying to help you sober up quickly – but these are no magic cures for inebriation.
All these remedies do is make you more alert, and that can fool you into believing that you’re sober when you’re not (but it won’t fool a Breathalyzer if you get pulled over).
2. Eating a heavy meal will absorb the alcohol.
A heavy meal before or after you’ve been drinking can make you feel better, but it won’t make you sober.
All it does is slow down the absorption of the alcohol that’s in your system – and that means you could actually remain intoxicated longer than you expect.
3. Fresh air will speed up your sobriety
A quick walk in the cold before you drive home or rolling the window down while you drive so that the cold air hits your face will make you feel more sober – but it doesn’t actually lower your blood alcohol content (BAC).
Again, this is just like the “coffee and a cold shower” trick, and no more effective.
In reality, the rate at which a person processes alcohol through their system depends on everything from their age and health to their weight and metabolism. Time is actually the only effective cure for intoxication. If you made a mistake and are now facing a drunk driving charge, it’s probably time to seek legal guidance.
