Coffee is a popular choice for people looking to sober up after a night of drinking alcohol, but the truth is that it does not actually have the ability to sober you up.
When you drink alcohol, it is absorbed into your bloodstream and begins to affect your brain and body. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, meaning that it slows down brain function and can cause drowsiness, slurred speech, and impaired judgment and coordination.
Coffee, on the other hand, is a stimulant that can help to increase alertness and wakefulness. While it may make you feel more awake and alert, it does not actually lower your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or reverse the effects of alcohol on your body.
In fact, the combination of alcohol and caffeine, as found in some mixed drinks, can be dangerous as it can lead to a false sense of sobriety. This can lead to people thinking that they are not as impaired as they actually are, leading to risky behavior such as driving while under the influence.
So, while a cup of coffee may help you feel more alert after a night of drinking, it will not actually sober you up. The only way to sober up is to wait for your body to metabolize the alcohol, which can take several hours.
The best course of action is to refrain from drinking if you have to be sober for any reason and to never drink and drive.