If you’re drunk right now, the most important things are to stop drinking, sip water, and get somewhere safe. Your body clears alcohol at a fixed rate of about one standard drink per hour, and nothing speeds that up. What you can do is keep yourself comfortable, avoid making the situation worse, and recognize when things have crossed from “had too much” into something dangerous.
What Actually Helps You Sober Up
Time is the only thing that removes alcohol from your system. Your liver processes roughly one drink per hour, and that rate stays constant no matter what you do. If you’ve had six drinks, you’re looking at about six hours before the alcohol is fully cleared. There are no shortcuts.
Coffee, cold showers, fresh air, and exercise will not lower your blood alcohol level. Caffeine in particular is misleading: it can make you feel more alert, but the CDC confirms it does not reduce alcohol’s effects on your body. You’re just a wide-awake drunk person instead of a sleepy one, which can actually be more dangerous because you’re more likely to overestimate how sober you are.
What does help in the short term: drink water between now and when you go to sleep. Eat something if your stomach can handle it. Bread, crackers, or any simple food will slow the absorption of whatever alcohol is still in your stomach. Stop drinking alcohol entirely for the rest of the night.
Handling Nausea and Vomiting
If you feel like you’re going to throw up, don’t fight it. Sit upright and lean forward so you’re not at risk of choking. Keep a trash can or bucket nearby. Do not lie flat on your back while nauseous.
If you’re caring for someone who is vomiting, do not try to make them sick on purpose. Let it happen naturally. Stay with them the entire time, because the real danger is choking on vomit, especially if they lose consciousness. Once the vomiting stops, small sips of water help, but don’t push large amounts of fluid on someone whose stomach is still upset.
If Someone Passes Out
A person who has passed out from drinking needs to be put in the recovery position, not left on their back. Here’s how to do it: with them lying face up, kneel beside them and place the arm closest to you straight out at a right angle, palm facing up. Take their other arm and fold it so the back of their hand rests against the cheek nearest to you. Use your free hand to bend their far knee to a right angle, then gently roll them toward you by pulling on that bent knee. Their head should now be resting on their folded hand, and their bent leg keeps them stable on their side.
Tilt their head back slightly and lift their chin to keep the airway open. This position means that if they vomit, it drains out of their mouth instead of going into their lungs. Stay with them and keep checking that they’re breathing.
Signs That Need Emergency Help
There’s a real line between being very drunk and alcohol poisoning, and it’s important to know what it looks like. Call emergency services immediately if you notice any of these:
- Breathing problems: fewer than 8 breaths per minute, or gaps of 10 seconds or more between breaths
- Loss of consciousness: they can’t be woken up, or they drift in and out
- Seizures
- Skin changes: clammy skin, bluish or pale coloring, or extremely low body temperature
- No gag reflex: this means they can’t protect themselves from choking on vomit
- Mental confusion beyond normal drunkenness, like not recognizing where they are or who you are
Alcohol poisoning kills people every year, and the most common mistake bystanders make is assuming someone will “sleep it off.” Blood alcohol levels can continue to rise even after a person stops drinking, because alcohol in the stomach keeps being absorbed. Someone who seems okay when they fall asleep can deteriorate quickly. If you’re unsure whether the situation is serious, err on the side of calling for help.
What to Avoid While Drunk
Don’t take acetaminophen (Tylenol) while alcohol is still in your system. Both substances are processed by your liver, and combining them increases the risk of liver damage. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) carry their own risks when mixed with alcohol, particularly stomach irritation and bleeding. If you have a headache right now, water and sleep are safer than reaching for a pill. Save the pain reliever for the morning, once the alcohol has cleared.
Don’t drive, obviously. Don’t swim or get in a bathtub. Don’t make important phone calls or send messages you might regret. Don’t drink more alcohol to “feel better.” And don’t go to sleep alone if you’re severely intoxicated. Have someone check on you, or at least text a friend to let them know your situation.
The Morning After
Hangovers peak when your blood alcohol drops back to zero, which is why you often feel worst several hours after your last drink rather than right away. Dehydration, inflammation, and disrupted sleep all contribute. When you wake up, water is the priority. An electrolyte drink or broth can help replace what you lost. Eat when you can, even if it’s just toast.
If you’re still vomiting hours after your last drink and can’t keep water down, that’s a sign of more serious dehydration. Persistent vomiting, confusion, or chest pain the next day warrant medical attention rather than the usual “tough it out” approach.