How to Sober Up Fast: Common Myths Debunked

Co-authored by Murphy Perng

Last Updated: March 21, 2024 References

You had a little too much to drink and now you need to sober up fast. We’ve all been there. There are a lot of supposed “cures” out there that people claim will help you sober up quickly, but do any of them really work? In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the most common myths about sobering up quickly and explain what will actually help you sober up and start feeling better.

1

Myth: Coffee will help you sober up.

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Caffeine might make you feel more alert, but it won’t sober you up. When you drink alcohol, it absorbs into your bloodstream and makes you feel intoxicated. Drinking coffee doesn’t actually lower the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream, and therefore it won't make you any less drunk. You might feel more awake after drinking some, but you won’t be any less intoxicated or impaired.^{[1]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

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- Drinking coffee or caffeinated beverages won’t make it safer to drive after you’ve been drinking, even if you feel like you’re less drunk.

2

Myth: Eating food after drinking will make you more sober.

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Once alcohol is in your bloodstream, eating doesn’t have any effect. It’s true that eating before or while you’re drinking alcohol can reduce how much alcohol your body absorbs, making you less drunk.^{[2]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source} Unfortunately, eating after the alcohol has already been absorbed into your bloodstream won’t help you sober up any faster. Food can’t help your body process absorbed alcohol.^{[3]
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- Drinking on an empty stomach can cause you to get drunk faster. It's always a good idea to eat a meal before or while you're drinking.

3

Myth: A cold shower can help you sober up.

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Cold showers don’t have an effect on how intoxicated you are. Some people recommend taking a cold shower when you’re drunk to sober up, but a cold shower won’t do anything to lower the amount of alcohol in your system. It might make you feel more alert temporarily, but you’ll still be just as impaired.^{[4]
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National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK

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4

Myth: Vomiting will get the alcohol out of your system.

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Vomiting won’t reduce the alcohol already in your bloodstream. Once you’re feeling the effects of the alcohol you’ve been drinking, that means it’s already absorbed into your bloodstream. Throwing up only gets rid of whatever is in your stomach, not what’s already been absorbed by your body.

5

Myth: Working out will help you “sweat out” the alcohol.

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Alcohol is in your blood, not in your sweat. Hitting the gym, going for a run, or taking a long walk won’t lower the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream.^{[5]
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Research source} Working out can also be dangerous when you’re impaired and make you more dehydrated.

6

Bottom line: Only time will help you sober up.

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It takes about an hour for your body to process 1 drink. Giving your body time to process the alcohol you consumed is the only way you can become less intoxicated and impaired. Give your body the time it needs to sober up.^{[6]
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- Getting a good night’s sleep or simply waiting for the effects of the alcohol to wear off is your best bet. However, if you’re worried that you or someone you know has alcohol poisoning (symptoms include vomiting, seizures, confusion, slow and irregular breathing, hypothermia, and/or blue skin and paleness), don’t wait or try to sleep it off. Call emergency services right away.
- Drink water in the meantime to stay hydrated.^{[7]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Murphy Perng
  Certified Wine Consultant
  
  Expert Interview. 15 March 2019.} Water won’t sober you up faster, but it will help prevent dehydration from the alcohol.
- Take an OTC pain reliever if you're hungover the next day, like aspirin, ibuprofen, or another NSAID. Avoid taking anything with acetaminophen in it, like Tylenol, since it can damage your liver if there's still alcohol in your system.^{[8]
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  Harvard Medical School
  Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
  
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How can I stay sober long term?

Tiffany Douglass, MA
Founder, Wellness Retreat Recovery Center
Tiffany Douglass is the Founder of Wellness Retreat Recovery Center, a JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) accredited drug and alcohol treatment program based in San Jose, California. She is also the Executive Director for Midland Tennessee at JourneyPure. She has over ten years of experience in substance abuse treatment and was appointed a Global Goodwill Ambassador in 2019 for her efforts in residential addiction treatment. Tiffany earned a BA in Psychology from Emory University in 2004 and an MA in Psychology with an emphasis on Organization Behavior and Program Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University in 2006.

Tiffany Douglass, MA

Founder, Wellness Retreat Recovery Center

Expert Answer

Try to get involved in a community you enjoy to help keep you busy and build a support system. You should also consider seeing a therapist. Therapy can help you understand why you drink, and then you can make changes to your life to break bad habits.

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Talk to a therapist if you have concerns about how much you drink. A therapist can help give you an unbiased perspective and recommend helpful tools and resources.^{[9]
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Tiffany Douglass, MA
Substance Abuse Treatment Specialist

Expert Interview. 10 March 2020.}

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If you know you’re going to be drinking, try alternating every other drink with a glass of water so you stay hydrated.

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Warnings

Never drive or operate machinery if you’ve been drinking.

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You can continue to absorb alcohol even after you go to sleep or pass out.^{[10]
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