Whether after a night out, a celebration or an impromptu happy hour, you might realize you’ve had a bit too much to drink. This realization can be nerve-wracking, especially if you are planning to drive to your destination.
In that moment of panic, you might be tempted to turn to so-called “quick fix” methods to sober up fast. From guzzling coffee to taking a cold shower, you’ve likely heard the myths. But here’s the reality: most of these tricks don’t work. Believing in these myths can lead to poor judgment—and worse, a DUI charge.
1. Coffee will sober you up
While coffee may make you feel more alert or awake, it does absolutely nothing to speed up the process of alcohol leaving your system. Caffeine is a stimulant that can make you feel more in control than you actually are. However, your reaction times, decision-making abilities and motor skills remain impaired.
2. Cold showers or fresh air will snap you out of it
Taking a cold shower or stepping outside into the crisp night air may jolt your senses and wake you up a bit. However, like coffee, this tactic does not remove alcohol from your bloodstream. Sobriety isn’t about how “awake” or “refreshed” you feel—it’s about your blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
3. Eating a big meal or drinking water will cancel out the booze
While food can slow the absorption of alcohol before or while you’re drinking, eating after the fact won’t undo what’s already been consumed. Similarly, staying hydrated is good practice, but water won’t lower your BAC. You might feel a bit better—less dizzy or nauseous—but you’re still intoxicated.
Your body needs time to process and eliminate alcohol—there’s no shortcut. Suppose you fell for one of these “sober up fast” myths and got in DUI trouble. In that case, you should enlist legal guidance to minimize any potential penalties.