Eating greasy food or taking a quick nap is not enough to sober up and drive. Alcohol affects everyone differently, and its effects do not wear off that quickly. Depending on your alcohol intake and your body’s ability to process it, the alcohol could stay in your system until the next day. Getting behind the wheel in this condition may still result in driving under the influence (DUI) charges.
The truth about sobering up faster
One of the standard ways to measure the amount of alcohol in the body is by measuring blood alcohol concentration (BAC). In Nebraska, a BAC of .08% or higher indicates intoxication and may result in a DUI conviction.
To lower your chances of facing a DUI, you might attempt various methods to sober up. However, scientific evidence shows that nothing can truly reduce your BAC levels quickly.
- Vomiting: Your body absorbs alcohol as soon as you drink it. Since alcohol is not digested like food, vomiting may do little to get rid of the alcohol in your bloodstream.
- Eating fatty foods: Eating high-carb or fatty foods before drinking may slow down your rate of absorption. However, your alcohol level won’t change if you eat after consuming alcohol.
- Sleeping: A quick nap helps you restore some energy, making you feel more alert. However, it only makes time pass more quickly, not sober you up faster.
The body needs time to break down alcohol. It takes about 5 hours to return to a 0.00 BAC.
Can you drink and drive at all?
It takes four to five standard drinks to get a BAC of .08%. However, factors like your weight, age, and health can affect this.
Even if your BAC is below .08%, it is not a good idea to go behind the wheel. The legal limit for commercial drivers is .04% BAC, while for underage drivers, it is only .02%.
Additionally, driving a few hours after drinking alcohol is dangerous regardless of your BAC level. While you may be under the legal limit, you could still be impaired and hurt someone. Taking the risk is not worth the potential consequences.
