What is the only thing that can sober you up after consuming alcohol?

The only thing that can truly sober a person up after consuming alcohol is time. Alcohol affects the body by impairing cognitive functions and physical coordination, and the metabolism of alcohol takes time. The liver processes alcohol at a fixed rate, which varies from person to person but is generally about one standard drink per hour.

Other methods, such as drinking coffee, taking a cold shower, or consuming energizing food, may create the illusion of feeling more alert or sober, but they do not actually speed up the body’s ability to eliminate alcohol. Each of these options can potentially make a person feel more awake or temporarily sharper, but they have no effect on the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels in the body. Thus, waiting until the body has metabolized the alcohol with the passage of time is the only reliable way to sober up.