How long does drunk last? Understanding the science of sobriety

October 2, 2025 •

4 min read

The liver processes alcohol at an average rate of about one standard drink per hour. Understanding this, however, is just one part of answering the complex question: How long does drunk last? This guide explores the various factors influencing how long alcohol affects your body and mind, providing authoritative insight into the sobering-up process.

Quick Summary

The duration of being drunk varies significantly among individuals and depends on factors like weight, gender, metabolism, food intake, and the amount consumed. Your body processes alcohol at a relatively fixed rate, with the primary organ responsible being the liver. Many common myths about speeding up this process, such as drinking coffee, are ineffective and potentially dangerous.

Key Points

Metabolism Rate: The liver processes alcohol at an average rate of about one standard drink per hour, a fixed pace that cannot be sped up by home remedies.
Factors Influencing Time: Body weight, gender, food intake, medication, and overall health all influence how quickly alcohol affects you and how long the effects last.
Dispelling Myths: Common myths like coffee, cold showers, or eating heavy food do not sober you up; they may only mask the symptoms or slow absorption.
Driving Dangers: Never assume you are sober enough to drive, as only time can lower your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) to safe levels.
Responsible Consumption: Pacing your drinks and eating a meal can help manage the rate of alcohol absorption, but it won't change the underlying metabolism process.
Hydration is Key: Drinking water can combat dehydration caused by alcohol and help mitigate hangover symptoms, though it doesn't speed up metabolism.

The Science of Alcohol Metabolism

When you consume an alcoholic beverage, the alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream from the stomach and small intestine. From there, it's primarily the liver's job to metabolize it. The liver produces enzymes, mainly alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), that break down alcohol into other, less toxic compounds. This process happens at a consistent, predictable pace for most people. The liver can only handle a certain amount of alcohol per hour, which is why consuming large quantities over a short period can lead to intoxication. This consistent processing rate is a key reason why there are no true shortcuts to sobering up.

Factors that Influence Sobriety Time

While the liver's processing rate is relatively steady, several factors can influence the overall time it takes to sober up. These variables can either speed up the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream or affect how efficiently your body processes it.

Body Weight and Composition

A person with a higher body weight generally has more blood and body water, which dilutes the alcohol and can lead to a lower blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Conversely, a smaller person consuming the same amount of alcohol will likely have a higher BAC and, consequently, may feel the effects of being drunk for longer.

Sex and Gender

Biological differences between sexes play a significant role in alcohol metabolism. On average, women tend to have a higher BAC than men after consuming the same amount of alcohol. This is due to several factors, including typically having a lower body weight, a smaller proportion of body water, and lower levels of the enzyme ADH in their stomach lining.

Food Intake

Drinking on an empty stomach allows alcohol to be absorbed into the bloodstream much faster. Eating a substantial meal before or while drinking can slow down the absorption process, which in turn can lead to a lower BAC and a less intense feeling of drunkenness. However, it does not prevent intoxication or sober you up more quickly in the long run.

Medications and Other Substances

Certain prescription or over-the-counter medications can interfere with the body's ability to metabolize alcohol, sometimes dramatically. Mixing alcohol with other substances can also have unpredictable and dangerous effects. It is crucial to read warning labels and consult a doctor about potential interactions.

Overall Health and Liver Function

The health of your liver is paramount to how your body processes alcohol. If you have any pre-existing liver conditions, your body’s ability to break down alcohol will be compromised. In such cases, it could take significantly longer to sober up, and the health risks are much higher.

Common Myths About Sobering Up

Many myths persist about how to speed up the sobering-up process. Dispelling these misconceptions is vital for promoting safe behavior.

Myth: Coffee will sober you up. While caffeine might make you feel more alert, it does not affect the rate at which your liver metabolizes alcohol. It can mask the depressant effects of alcohol, potentially leading to riskier behavior.
Myth: Taking a cold shower helps. A cold shower will certainly make you feel awake and uncomfortable, but it has no impact on your BAC. The shock can also be dangerous if you are heavily intoxicated.
Myth: Vomiting gets the alcohol out. Once alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream, vomiting will not remove it. It will only remove any alcohol still in your stomach, and it's also a sign of alcohol poisoning in some cases.

A Comparison of Sobering Factors


Factor	Effect on BAC	How it Influences Sobriety	Notes
Body Weight	Higher weight = lower BAC	Longer to feel drunk, but steady metabolism rate	Based on dilution in body water
Gender	Females = higher BAC	May feel effects longer due to lower ADH	Biological differences matter
Food Intake	Eating slows absorption	Delays peak BAC, but doesn't change metabolism rate	Eating a meal is effective
Speed of Drinking	Faster drinking = higher BAC	Faster onset of intoxication	Pacing is key to staying safe
Medication	Varies widely	Can significantly increase or decrease metabolism	Consult a doctor for specifics

The Dangers of Inaccurate Assumptions

Assuming you can sober up faster than your body is capable of is a recipe for disaster. This is especially true for those who plan to drive after drinking. Even if you "feel" sober, your BAC may still be over the legal limit. The only reliable method for sobering up is time. Waiting until your body has fully processed the alcohol is the only safe option.

Conclusion: Time is the Only True Remedy

In conclusion, the length of time you are under the influence of alcohol, or how long does drunk last, is a function of your body’s unique physiological makeup and a few consistent variables. The most crucial takeaway is that the liver processes alcohol at a relatively fixed rate, with time being the only true factor that will allow your body to eliminate the alcohol from your system. While food, weight, and other elements can influence the intensity of intoxication, they do not magically speed up the process. Responsible drinking and prioritizing safety by allowing ample time to pass are paramount. For further reading on this topic, refer to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) at https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/.

Frequently Asked Questions

For most people, it takes about one hour for the liver to process one standard drink. A standard drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.

No, drinking water does not speed up the process of sobering up. It can help with dehydration and potentially reduce the severity of a hangover, but it does not affect your blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

Eating food, particularly a substantial meal, can slow down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream. This can prevent a rapid spike in your BAC, but it will not speed up the actual metabolism of alcohol once it's in your system.

No, this is a dangerous myth. The caffeine in coffee is a stimulant that may make you feel more alert, but it does not reduce your BAC or impair your judgment. It can mask the feeling of intoxication and lead to riskier behavior.

Due to biological differences such as body composition, water content, and enzyme levels, women generally process alcohol more slowly than men. This means that a woman and man of the same weight drinking the same amount may have different BAC levels.

If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, call emergency services immediately. Symptoms include confusion, vomiting, slow or irregular breathing, and low body temperature. Do not wait for symptoms to worsen.

The effects of binge drinking can last much longer than a single drink. Since the liver can only process alcohol at a steady rate, a high volume of alcohol will stay in your system for many hours. The aftereffects, like a hangover, can last even longer.