Alcohol Combustion

How long does it take for the body to metabolize alcohol?

The body breaks down alcohol at a steady rate, but the time required varies from person to person. There is no way to speed up the process—methods such as drinking coffee, taking a cold shower, or exercising do not affect how quickly alcohol leaves the body. The only factor that influences alcohol metabolism is time.

How fast is alcohol metabolized?

The average breakdown rate is approximately 0.1–0.15‰ per hour, but this can vary depending on:

Body weight
Gender
Age
Liver health
Individual metabolism

Because of these factors, it is impossible to determine exactly how long it will take for someone to become completely sober after drinking alcohol.

Examples of alcohol metabolism times

There are general guidelines that provide an approximate idea of how long it takes for the body to break down alcohol. For a person with a normal metabolism and a body weight of around 70 kg, the estimated breakdown times are:

33 cl strong beer (5.0%) – approximately 2–2.5 hours
50 cl strong beer (5.0%) – approximately 3–4 hours
1 glass of wine (12 cl, 12%) – approximately 2.5–3 hours
4 cl spirits (40%) – approximately 2–2.5 hours

These figures are only estimates and can vary significantly between individuals.

Can you speed up alcohol metabolism?

No, there are no proven methods to speed up the body's alcohol breakdown. Common myths include:

Drinking coffee or energy drinks – May make you feel more alert but does not affect blood alcohol levels.
Taking a cold shower – Can make you feel more awake but does not change the breakdown rate.
Exercising or sweating – Does not affect how the liver processes alcohol.
Using a sauna – Unfortunately, this does not work either.

The only solution is to wait until the body has metabolized the alcohol naturally.

When is it safe to drive after drinking alcohol?

There is no definitive rule for how long you must wait before driving after consuming alcohol. Since metabolism rates vary between individuals, it is always best to wait longer than you think is necessary.

For example:

If you drink a bottle of wine (75 cl, 12%), it may take up to 12 hours before the alcohol is fully metabolized.
If you drink four strong beers (5.0%), it may take over 8 hours for the alcohol to leave your body.

The safest approach is to avoid driving altogether the day after drinking.

Learn more about the legal limits for drunk driving and aggravated drunk driving here.

Summary

The body metabolizes alcohol at a steady but individual rate.
The average breakdown rate is 0.1–0.15‰ per hour, but this varies between individuals.
There are no methods to speed up alcohol metabolism—it happens automatically in the body.
It is impossible to determine exactly when someone is sober, so it is always safest to wait longer than expected before driving.
Driving with alcohol in your system is both illegal and dangerous. Always wait until you are completely sure the alcohol has left your body before getting behind the wheel.