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How to Sober Up Fast: Common Myths Debunked Download ArticleExplore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Myth: Coffee will help you sober up. 2 Myth: Eating food after drinking will make you more sober. 3 Myth: A cold shower can help you sober up. 4 Myth: Vomiting will get the alcohol out of your system. 5 Myth: Working out will help you “sweat out” the alcohol. 6 Bottom line: Only time will help you sober up. + Show 3 more... - Show less... Other Sections Expert Q&A Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by wikiHow Staff
Last Updated: March 5, 2025 References
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 3,039,066 times. Learn more...
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.
Steps
1
Myth: Coffee will help you sober up.
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Fact: 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]X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
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.
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Myth: Eating food after drinking will make you more sober.
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Fact: 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]X Trustworthy Source PubMed CentralJournal 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]XResearch source
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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Fact: 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]X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK)Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
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Myth: Vomiting will get the alcohol out of your system.
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Fact: 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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Fact: 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]XResearch source Working out can also be dangerous when you’re impaired and make you more dehydrated.
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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]XResearch source
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 PerngCertified Wine ConsultantExpert Interview 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.
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Question 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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 24 Helpful 11
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Tips
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.[8]X Expert Source Tiffany Douglass, MASubstance Abuse Treatment SpecialistExpert InterviewThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If you know you’re going to be drinking, try alternating every other drink with a glass of water so you stay hydrated. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 3
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Warnings
Never drive or operate machinery if you’ve been drinking. Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 6
You can continue to absorb alcohol even after you go to sleep or pass out.[9]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 3,039,066 times. 20 votes - 55% Co-authors: 27Updated: March 5, 2025 Views: 3,039,066 Categories: Alcohol IntoxicationArticle SummaryX
If you need to sober up fast, stop drinking alcohol immediately, since it takes your body an hour to process each drink you’ve had. You should also drink a glass of water for every drink you’ve had to dilute the alcohol. To combat the alcohol's effects, eat some light snacks, like peanuts or crackers. Once you’ve got food and water in your system, take a 30-minute nap, since rest is crucial when you need to sober up. Remember to avoid common mistakes when trying to feel sober, like taking a cold shower or drinking coffee, because these methods may make you feel more alert but won’t reduce the effects of alcohol. For tips on how to prepare for a night of drinking beforehand, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Myth: Coffee will help you sober up. 2 Myth: Eating food after drinking will make you more sober. 3 Myth: A cold shower can help you sober up. 4 Myth: Vomiting will get the alcohol out of your system. 5 Myth: Working out will help you “sweat out” the alcohol. 6 Bottom line: Only time will help you sober up. + Show 3 more... - Show less... Other Sections Expert Q&A Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by wikiHow Staff 
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Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 3,039,066 times. 20 votes - 55% Co-authors: 27 Updated: March 5, 2025 Views: 3,039,066 Categories: Alcohol Intoxication Article SummaryX
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Fact: 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] 
Fact: 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] 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] 
Fact: 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] Advertisement 
Fact: 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. 
Fact: 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] Working out can also be dangerous when you’re impaired and make you more dehydrated. Advertisement 
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] 
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. 