If you find yourself in a situation where you think may have had one drink too many you may contemplate whether you should drive home or not. At the same time you may have heard various tips that are meant to help sober you up. At one point or another we have likely all tried different techniques to sober up if the feeling of that one drink too many hits. The truth is that regardless of various tips floating around at there, the only thing that will sober you up is time. Drinking some coffee or taking a shower may leave you feeling that you are more sober but in the end that is not what is sobering you up. Below is a list of common myths associated with sobering up after having too much to drink. Remember at the end of the day it is better to wait it out because only time will sober you up as your body eliminates the alcohol from your system.
Myth: “Alcohol is a stimulant.”
Fact: Alcohol is a depressant. It acts on the central nervous system like an anesthetic to lower or depress the activity of your brain.
Myth: “Drinking coffee sobers me up.”
Fact: Coffee cannot rid your system of alcohol. It just makes you a nervous, wide-awake drunk. Only time reverses impairment.
Myth: “I always stay away from the hard stuff.”
Fact: Alcohol is alcohol. Beer has the same effect as straight scotch. One 12-ounce beer has as much alcohol as a 1.5-ounce shot of whiskey or a 5-ounce glass of wine.
Myth: “I’m bigger so I can handle my liquor better.”
Fact: Size is only one factor in how much you can drink. Metabolism, amount of rest, and food intake all play a part in how you handle liquor. Impairment in motor reflexes and judgement can begin with the first drink.
Myth: “Once I roll down the car window, I’m okay.”
Fact: No amount of fresh, chilly air can reverse impairment. You gain nothing by rolling down a window or turning on the air conditioner.
Myth: “I just drive slower.”
Fact: Many people do, believing they can actually compensate for being impaired by creeping along at 22 mph. This can be dangerous. Others race along at 75 miles mph. The truth is, impaired drivers are unsafe at any speed.
Myth: “All I have to do is splash my face with cold water.”
Fact: Splash all you like. You can even take a cold shower. It may make you cleaner, but it won’t sober you up or make you a safe driver.
Myth: “A drink or two makes me a better driver.”
Fact: Even one drink can cloud your thinking, dim your vision, and slow your reflexes. Small amounts of alcohol can impair your judgment and put you and others on the road at risk of death or disabling injury.
