Almost everybody overindulges once in a while. However, when you get a little carried away while you’re drinking, the consequences can be serious – especially if you aren’t sure how you’re going to get home.
So, what’s the best thing to try to sober up as quickly as possible? A cold shower? Coffee? Some water and a few Tylenol?
You might as well get comfortable (or call for a ride)
The harsh reality is that nothing but time will sober you up. The rate at which you metabolize the alcohol in your system may be a little faster or slower depending on your age, gender, weight and what else you have in your stomach, but none of the afore-mentioned tricks will help. In fact:
- Water will rehydrate you, which may make you feel a little better, but pain relievers on top of alcohol can be dangerous. Taking acetaminophen too soon after drinking can lead to liver damage, ulcers and a rapid heartbeat, among other things. Neither will help you get sober any faster.
- Coffee will make you feel more awake, but it will leave you more dehydrated in the end. Don’t let that quick infusion of caffeine fool you into believing that you’re sobering up, because it’s just an illusion.
- A cold shower or splashing ice water on your face can also wake you up, but it won’t do anything for your sobriety. In fact, experts say that it can make it harder for your body to eliminate alcohol from your system right away – so you definitely don’t want to try this one.
The best thing to do is to call a friend, call for a ride or see if you can just stay where you are you can safely drive again.
If you do make a mistake and end up with a drunk driving charge, don’t lose heart. There are defenses available.