After a night of drinking alcohol, many people assume that sleeping is enough to eliminate the effects of alcohol. While rest does help your body recover, it doesn’t speed up the process of metabolising alcohol.
Depending on how much you’ve consumed, you might still have alcohol in your bloodstream when you wake up, causing you to register a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reading on a breathalyser. We explore the concept of “sleeping off” alcohol and why it’s important to plan ahead.
How does the body process alcohol?
Your body processes alcohol at a steady rate, with the liver breaking down about one standard drink per hour.
However, this can vary depending on one’s genetics, drinking on an empty stomach, age, gender, and more. Read about factors that affect BAC and intoxication levels to learn more.
LEARN MORE: How many standard drinks to .05?
Even after you’ve stopped drinking and fall asleep, your body continues to metabolise the alcohol in your system.
However, if you’ve consumed a large amount of alcohol in a short period, the blood alcohol level remaining in your system when you wake up could still be above the legal limit for driving or impair your cognitive functions.
Why doesn’t sleep completely eliminate alcohol?
While sleep helps alleviate some of the fatigue caused by drinking, it doesn’t remove alcohol from your system. If you go to bed with a high BAC, your body may not have had enough time to metabolise all the alcohol by the time you wake up.
This means you could still experience effects such as:
- Poor coordination and slower reaction times.
- Impaired decision-making abilities.
- Drowsiness and reduced focus.
Even if you feel better after sleeping, these residual effects of alcohol can make tasks like driving or operating machinery extremely dangerous.
How long does it take to sober up?
The time it takes to become sober depends on the amount of alcohol you’ve consumed and individual factors like weight, gender, age, etc.
If you’ve had eight standard drinks, it could take up to eight hours for your body to fully process the alcohol. If you only sleep for six hours, you’re likely to wake up with alcohol still in your bloodstream.
This, of course, also depends on a number of different factors like those mentioned above. The best way to estimate your BAC level at home is by using a personal breathalyser.
Relying on coffee, a cold shower, or even food to speed up the sobering process is a common misconception. These methods may make you feel more alert, but they don’t reduce your BAC. Time is the only effective way to sober up.
LEARN MORE: How long does alcohol stay in your system?
FURTHER READING: Stop kidding yourself: Breathalyser myths
Hangover driving
The effects of a hangover, such as fatigue, headaches, and dehydration, can be just as dangerous as driving while over the legal BAC limit.
Hangover driving affects your reaction time, attention span, and ability to make decisions, all of which are critical for safe driving. Pair this with any residual alcohol in your system, and you’re putting yourself and others at significant risk on the road.
Alcohol affects the central nervous system, and even after sleeping, its lingering effects can impair judgment and reaction times.
In some cases, binge drinking or consuming alcoholic drinks excessively can lead to alcohol poisoning or alcohol overdose, which makes proper recovery and awareness even more critical.
LEARN MORE: Drunk driving vs hangover driving
What should you do?
If you’ve been drinking heavily the night before, it’s best to avoid driving altogether the morning after until you’re certain your BAC is back to zero.
Here are some tips to ensure safety:
- Wait it out: Allow enough time for your body to process the alcohol. Use a personal breathalyser to confirm your BAC if you’re unsure.
- Plan ahead: Arrange alternative transportation, such as a designated driver, rideshare service, or public transport, before you start drinking.
- Know your limits: Be mindful of how much you’re drinking and pace yourself to avoid excessive intoxication.
Drunkenness doesn’t automatically go away after sleeping
While a good night’s rest can help with recovery, it doesn’t speed up the liver’s ability to break down alcohol. If you’ve consumed a large amount of alcohol, you might still be impaired the next morning, making it unsafe to drive or operate heavy machinery.
Understanding how alcohol consumption affects your body and planning accordingly can prevent dangerous situations and save lives. Always prioritise safety, both for yourself and those around you.
Monitor your BAC level at home with a personal breathalyser. Breathalysers are the fastest and most accurate way of estimating one’s intoxication level to help make informed decisions.
Andatech does not condone driving or operating heavy machinery after drinking alcohol, even if below the legal limit.
