How Long Does It Take to Sober Up from Alcohol?

There are many myths about how to sober up from alcohol. From drinking strong coffee to taking a cold shower, everyone has their own ideas, but the truth is that time is the only thing that helps someone recover from the effects of drinking alcohol. But exactly how long does it take to sober up from alcohol? That depends on many individual factors, including the person’s metabolism, gender, food intake, weight, drinking history, and amount of alcohol in the body.

Individual responses to alcohol can vary significantly, but generally, the human body and liver can process alcohol at about one standard drink per hour. A standard drink is typically considered 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, and 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. If someone has consumed a large amount of alcohol, it’s important to monitor for signs of alcohol poisoning. If concerned about alcohol consumption or its effects, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional.

How Long After Drinking Are You Still Drunk?

Since being considered drunk after drinking will vary from person to person, rough time estimates for how long alcohol affects the body can vary. For light drinking, which includes consuming one to two drinks, the effects typically last about one to two hours. If someone engages in moderate drinking, which is three to four drinks, the effects can last about three to five hours. For cases of heavy drinking involving five or more drinks, the effects may extend for six to eight hours or even longer. 

Remember, these are general guidelines, and anyone drinking small amounts of alcohol should never operate heavy machinery or drive a vehicle. The legal blood alcohol limit in the U.S. is 0.08%. When the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in the body reaches 0.08%, which is typically the legal driving limit in many states, the body will require approximately five to six hours to metabolize the alcohol and return to a zero BAC. The length of this process depends directly on the total amount of alcohol consumed and the drinker’s metabolic rate.

Which Organ Is Directly Affected with Alcohol Intake?

Since the liver is the organ responsible for processing and breaking down alcohol in the body, it is the most impacted by someone’s drinking habits. When consuming alcohol, about 90 to 98% of it is metabolized by the liver. As the liver works to metabolize alcohol, it undergoes significant stress and potential damage, which can cause severe long-term effects of alcohol abuse. Long-term alcohol consumption can lead to harmful effects on the liver, including:

• Fatty liver disease
• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Cirrhosis
• Increased risk of liver cancer

While the liver is the main organ directly affected by drinking, alcohol also causes harm to other organs like the brain, heart, and pancreas. However, the liver is the most at-risk organ for long-term damage due to its role in processing alcohol.

Does Water Help Sober Up?

When trying to sober up and figure out how long alcohol stays in your system, many people think drinking water will flush out toxins and help people sober up. Drinking water will not make people sober up faster or reduce their level of impairment. While it won’t help decrease the time it takes to overcome the real-time effects of drinking when sobering up, consuming water during and after alcohol consumption can help people recover the next day, as alcohol can severely dehydrate people who drink large amounts. Drinking water helps replace lost fluids and can reduce some negative effects of dehydration, like headaches and dry mouth. Drinking water between alcoholic drinks can help slow down alcohol intake and potentially reduce the rate of alcohol absorption. Water will also not speed up the metabolism of alcohol in the liver, with time being the only thing that can lower the blood alcohol level.

Why Do Alcoholics Gag in the Morning?

Many alcoholics frequently feel strong nausea and gagging in the morning because their bodies suffer from internal damage caused by regular drinking. Many people who regularly consume excessive amounts of alcohol can experience disruptions in their digestive systems, leading to multiple forms of stomach lining inflammation. When an alcoholic wakes up, their heightened sensitivity in the stomach triggers a powerful gag reflex because of the chronic irritation they have experienced. The alcoholic’s body repeatedly fights against toxic levels of alcohol, which damages the digestive tract, and as a result, even the thought of food or drink can feel intensely nauseating in the morning.

An important role is also played by alcohol withdrawal in morning gagging and nausea is experienced as well. As alcohol becomes a constant presence, the body relies on it, and the nervous system adjusts to this dependency. After a night of heavy drinking, the body reacts to the absence of alcohol with shock and stress. Sweating, tremors, and a powerful sense of physical discomfort can accompany the intense morning gagging. This occurs because the body is signaling a severe metabolic disruption due to alcohol dependency.

How to Sober Up from Alcohol Through Addiction Treatment at Resurgence Behavioral Health

Knowing how long does it take to sober up from alcohol is helpful, but for people with severe addiction issues, not drinking at all is the best step to overcome the effects of alcohol consumption. Overcoming alcohol addiction requires professional help in a caring facility with qualified addiction treatment specialists. Resurgence Behavioral Health in California offers inpatient, detox, and outpatient addiction treatment and dual diagnosis treatment for people suffering from alcoholism. Our alcohol addiction treatment programs focus on providing evidence-based therapy methods personalized to treat the recovery needs of each patient. Please reach out to Resurgence Behavioral Health by calling 855-458-0050 today to learn more about how we can help you or a loved one overcome alcohol addiction and maintain sobriety.

External Sources

• Healthline – How to Sober Up
• California Department of Alcoholic Control – Alcohol Facts
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism – Alcohol’s Effects on Health

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

Research | Editorial