Sobering up
As blood containing alcohol circulates through the liver, alcohol is removed by a process known as oxidation.
- 95% of the alcohol you consume is ultimately removed from the body by the liver.
- 5% is removed through breath, urine and perspiration.
It takes a healthy liver approximately one hour to process one standard drink, therefore.
- If a person drinks 10 pots of beer, the accumulated alcohol will take at least 10 hours to leave their system.
- If they have 2 glasses of wine (200ml), it will be 4 hours before all that alcohol leaves their system.
The following methods have DO NOT have any effect in reducing the level of alcohol in a person's body.
- Coffee
- Going to the toilet
- Shower
- Drinking themselves sober
- "the hair of the dog"
- Going for a swim
NONE OF THESE METHODS WORK.
The only way to sober up is to give your body TIME to process the alcohol consumed.