Apr 05 2010
Sobering Up - Myth Versus Fact
Alcohol is a common facet of America’s social scene. When drinking, however, it is important to be aware of your level of intoxication. Many people drink socially, and by the time the party’s over and everyone is heading home, they are too intoxicated to drive. A variety of myths about “sobering up” may motivate people to make bad decisions, such as driving while drunk.
Myths
The myths surrounding alcohol are endless. Quick ways to sober up are nonexistent, despite circulating tall tales. Some such myths include:
o Ingesting caffeine. No matter how much coffee you ingest, this will not “sober you up.” It may make you less sleepy, but it will not lower your blood alcohol content (BAC).
o Taking a hot or cold shower. The theory behind this myth is that a hot shower will increase your circulation, causing your body to process the alcohol more quickly. This is simply not true. Your liver metabolizes the alcohol, regardless of how fast your blood is pumping.
o Exercise. While exercise does improve metabolic processes, it does not work immediately. Exercising while drunk will not sober you up quicker, and it may cause injury, so don’t do it.
o Drinking copious amounts of water. This may help prevent a nasty headache in the morning, but it will not reduce your BAC. The benefits of drinking water is that is rehydrates you, resulting in a less intense hangover.
o Eating food heavy in carbohydrates. The theory is that carb-rich foods, such as bread, will absorb the alcohol in your stomach, when, in truth, your body begin absorbing the alcohol immediately. By the time you ingest bread, the alcohol will most likely already be in your blood stream.
Facts
The truth about sobering up is that it takes time. Waiting for your body to metabolize the drinks you’ve ingested could take a long time. On average, the human body fully metabolizes a drink in 2 hours; however, these rates can change depending on fitness, gender, and other drugs present in your body.
Tips
The best idea for making it home safely would be to stop drinking well in advance of the time you will need to leave. Enabling your body the proper amount of time for metabolizing alcohol is the only safe way for ensuring your sobriety. If you do not allow yourself the necessary amount of time to sober up, you may want to consider taking a taxi, or other alternative mode of transportation.
For more information on alcohol-related charges and convictions, contact the Rhode Island DUI defense attorney James Powderly.
Joseph Devine
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