The only thing that lowers a person's blood alcohol level (BAC) is time. The liver metabolizes alcohol at a constant, slow rate, typically about one standard drink per hour, and this process cannot be sped up by any external methods.
It is important to note that common strategies used to “sober up,” such as taking a cold shower, sleeping, drinking water and consuming caffeine, do not work to lower BAC. The only thing that can help alcohol leave your bloodstream is time.
The only factor that lowers a person's BAC is time. Because everyone has different metabolism rates, the exact amount of time varies between individuals. In contrast to popular beliefs, drinking coffee, consuming multiple glasses of water, or having cold showers does not help individuals to sober up more quickly.
Since water dilutes alcohol and it can lower a person's BAC level, a person who weighs more will have a lower BAC level than a person who weighs less after consuming the same amount of alcohol.
Most of the ethanol in the body is broken down in the liver by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which transforms ethanol into a toxic compound called acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), a known carcinogen.
Drinking plenty of water hydrates you and gives your liver time to metabolise the alcohol out of your system. Food can reduce your alcohol level. A stomach full of carbs and fat slows alcohol absorption.
Conclusion. Alcohol, once consumed, gets absorbed into our bloodstream, and this is a huge factor that might cause an inaccurate blood test report. This is why doctors recommend fasting for at least 8-12 hours before a blood test.
Contrary to popular belief, nothing can lower BAC except time; coffee, cold showers, and chugging glasses of water will not help you sober up any faster. Curious what your BAC might be? Use our calculator to estimate, but don't forget that everyone metabolizes alcohol (beer, wine, liquor) differently.
In brief summary of the study findings, when food is eaten in close proximity to drinking alcohol, it can substantially reduce the BAC from the level that would be reached if the alcohol were consumed on an empty stomach. Protein has the largest effect, and carbohydrates also are very effective.
What Can Cause a False High BAC Test?
While your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can rise quickly, BAC goes down at a slow and predictable rate. The average body will metabolize between . 015 and . 020 BAC per hour (that's 4-5 hours to zero for someone at .
Toxins are naturally eliminated through urination and defecation. It takes time for your body to break down alcohol and release these toxins. Depending on your blood alcohol level, this could take several hours or days to complete. However, peeing will not speed up this process, so it won't help you sober up.
Foods that can trigger false positive BAC results
And because everyone metabolizes alcohol at their own rate, some people will take longer to clear it than others. In general, this is the maximum amount of time tests can detect alcohol after you consume it: Blood test: 12 hours. Breath test: 24 hours.
If you really like the feel of fresh air when you're intoxicated, consider walking all the way home. Exercising: While exercise does help the body eliminate some alcohol through sweating and breathing, the amount is negligible and won't affect your BAC.
7 Things That May Affect Breathalyzer Results
Allowing the liver enough time to metabolize the alcohol is the only way to remove alcohol from the body. A cold shower, fresh air, exercise, or black coffee will not help sober a person up. Time is the only thing that will remove alcohol from the system (about an hour per standard drink).
Your body fat and muscle mass.
Muscle tissue absorbs alcohol whereas adipose (fat) tissue does not. When compared to a person of equal weight but with greater muscle mass, a person with a higher percentage of body fat will (usually) have a higher BAC.
The "20-minute rule for alcohol" is a simple strategy to moderate drinking: wait 20 minutes after finishing one alcoholic drink before starting the next, giving you time to rehydrate with water and reassess if you truly want another, often reducing cravings and overall intake. It helps slow consumption, break the chain of continuous drinking, and allows the body a natural break, making it easier to decide if you've had enough or switch to a non-alcoholic option.
Three fingers of alcohol is an imprecise, old-fashioned measure, but generally equates to about 3 to 6 ounces (90-180 ml), often estimated as 1 to 2 ounces (30-60 ml) per finger, with variations depending on finger size, glass size, and bartender interpretation. While some try to standardize it to 1 ounce per finger, a common pour for "two fingers" is 2 ounces, making "three fingers" roughly 3 ounces, though it can easily be more.
If you are going to have to submit to an EtG urine alcohol test, your safest bet is to stop consuming alcohol well in advance of the 80-hour look-back period. Passing an EtG hair follicle test with little notice might be a bit more challenging.
False-positive test results with ethyl glucuronide and sulfate may be due to incidental exposure to alcohol-containing products such as mouthwash and hand sanitizers, especially if lower cutoff concentrations are used.
There are a few blood tests that can measure whether a person has been drinking alcohol.