Drinking a cup of coffee will not sober you up if you have already consumed alcohol. Some people suggest this as a way to get around OUI charges, but it is very important to know that it does not work. It is just a common myth.
A cup of coffee certainly can affect how you feel after a night of drinking. If you are feeling fatigued, the caffeine can help wake you up. This can cause you to feel more alert and focused, and people sometimes conflate this with feeling sober. The reality is that your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is still elevated, but you are simply awake and intoxicated at the same time.
How can you lower your BAC?
There are no real tricks to lower your blood alcohol concentration after drinking. It just takes time, and most people see their BAC go down by roughly 0.015% per hour. It can vary slightly from person to person, but that is simply the average rate at which your body naturally processes alcohol and removes it from your system.
Nothing that you do after the fact is really going to change this rate. Drinking water can help you feel more hydrated. Eating a meal could help settle your stomach if you drank too much. Taking a cold shower, like drinking coffee, could wake you up. But none of those things reduces your BAC, so you could still be at risk of facing OUI charges if you drive.
If you do find yourself under arrest on suspicion of impaired driving, it is important to understand exactly what legal defense options you have available to you. Seeking legal guidance can help.
