When done right, a glass of sweet red wine doesn’t hurt anybody. However, there are situations where you will take one too many and find yourself in need of sober up fast. This could be due to an emergency like you are supposed to drive across town for urgent business or when you want to get home to prepare for an impromptu meeting.
How To Sober Up Fast
1.Take A Cold Shower
Cold showers do not reduce your blood alcohol concentration. They increase alertness for a short period of time which can help the drunk person figure out a way to get home.
You should know that cold showers have also been linked to loss of consciousness and shock among intoxicated people. Therefore, if you try to sober up someone by giving them a cold shower, make sure you monitor them closely. Don’t just lock them up in the bathroom.
2. Take Some Coffee
Just like cold showers, caffeine has no impact on BAC, but it can boost mental alertness for a brief moment and help you sober up. This may give you enough time to help the person call a loved one or a cab to get them home.
Note that the alertness produced by coffee can have severe repercussions. When the person sobers up, they may get a false impression that they are okay to drive. As the professionals behind https://finzfirm.com/car-accident-lawyer/drunk-driving-accidents/ say, a significant majority of road accidents are caused by drunk driving and, in most cases, it’s because the driver thinks they are sober enough to drive. Make sure the coffee does not give them a false sense of confidence.
3. Exercise
Some reports claim that exercises can increase the metabolism of alcohol. These reports need to be taken with a considerable pinch of salt because the clinical trials on this matter are inconclusive.
That being said, exercises can increase alertness even though the individual will still be impaired.
4. Take Charcoal Or Carbon Capsules
There are many reports of people taking activated charcoal with alcohol to reduce BAC and sober up. Some people also use it as a remedy for hangovers. Is there any reliable scientific evidence supporting its efficacy, though?
In this animal trial, scientists observed that activated charcoal consumed at the same time as alcohol could reduce BAC. The theories are that alcohol can absorb the sugar in cocktails or sulfates in wine to prevent your body’s alcohol concentration from rising too high.
Sadly, there is no clinical trial to back up these reports. Data shows that alcohol is absorbed too fast in the body, so consuming charcoal could be pointless. However, carbon and charcoal capsules may help with a hangover.
5. Get A Heavy Meal And Drink Lots Of Water
Food can slow down the absorption of alcohol. That’s why drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea. Taking some food before, during, and after alcohol consumption can be sobering.
Water and fruit juices are also very useful. Water hydrates the body to boost detoxification. Fruit juice will also support the excretion of alcohol by promoting liver activities.
How To Avoid Driving Drunk
Since it’s virtually impossible to drop BAC levels in a matter of minutes, it may help to give the drunk person alternatives instead of letting them get behind the wheel. Here is how you can help them:
1. Order Them An Uber
There is really no point in putting someone in danger through DUI in the age of affordable digital taxis. Order a cab from your smartphone, and you will help save a life.
2. Find Them A Designated Driver
You can use the above tips to increase the alertness of your drunk colleague and get information about a friend you can call to come to pick them up. This is an effective strategy that makes sure the person gets home safe while in familiar company. It is especially important if the drunk person is a female.
3. Recommend Public Transport
Public transport is another convenient alternative. It is not as cozy as a cab, but it’s definitely cheaper and safer than driving drunk.
4. Find Them A Place To Spend The Night
Depending on where the party was happening, you may be able to find him/her a place to sleep it off. This should be easy if they got drunk at a friend’s house, but it can be a bit tricky if it’s in a bar.
DUI is a serious issue claiming many lives every year. NHTSA reports that around 28 people die of drunk driving every single day! Therefore, do not mistake alertness for soberness. The consequences can be dire. Use the above information to help your drunken friend find their way home safely.