Is it possible to sober up quickly?

Man being hangover

Sobering up quickly is a common goal of those who have had too much to drink, but unfortunately, it's not always possible. The speed at which someone can sober up depends on many factors such as how much they drank, their size and weight, how quickly they consumed the alcohol, and any health issues or medications they may have.

It is important to remember that no matter what kind of drinks one consumes or how fast they consume them, the only guaranteed way to sober up is through the passing of time.

The best course of action for someone who has had too much to drink is to give the body time to process the alcohol and wait for sobriety to return naturally.

Tips for avoiding a hangover

Going out with friends to have fun can be nice and it sometimes means drinking, but it's important not to get too drunk if you want to avoid a hangover

Here are some tips to avoid getting too drunk.

  • One of the most important ways to avoid becoming too drunk is by pacing yourself. For example, having only one alcoholic beverage an hour.
  • You should also be sure to have food throughout the night which can help absorb some of the alcohol you're consuming.
  • Drinking non-alcoholic drinks as well as alcoholic drinks.
  • Choose low-alcohol drinks.
  • Alternating between water and alcohol. This helps to slow down the effects of the alcohol while being able to continue enjoying the occasion.

Common myths to get sober faster

You've probably heard of several ways to get sober faster. Unfortunately, it is more than likely that none of these tips or remedies will help you because only time is an effective way to get sober. Here are some of the most popular myths for getting sober faster.

  • Eating greasy food will help you sober up quickly when you're drunk.
  • Drinking coffee or exercising may temporarily boost alertness, but it won't reduce the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream.
  • Throw up to get sober.
  • Taking a cold shower.
  • Drinking copious amounts of water will purge alcohol from the system. Unfortunately, this isn't the case at all.
  • Sweat out the alcohol by for example, exercising or hitting the sauna.
  • Sleep it off.

So in conclusion, the best way to sober up quickly is time. Allowing for the body to metabolize the alcohol out of your system over an extended period of time.

Written by Angela Mosel Angela Mosel is a substance abuse social worker with a Bachelor of Social Work from Spring Arbor University.

Related articles