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Does coffee help sober you up?

On Behalf of | Oct 22, 2024 | DUI

It’s very common for people to realize that they shouldn’t drive after they’ve been drinking alcohol. Maybe they only thought they’d have one drink, but it turned into three or four, and now they’re too impaired. They still have to drive home, so they’re looking for a way that they can quickly get sober and get behind the wheel.

Often, these individuals may think that they need to go to a local coffee shop and buy a large cup of hot, black coffee. If they drink this, it will sober them up and they can then drive without worrying about being arrested on DUI charges. Is it really this simple?

Coffee doesn’t help at all

No, it is not that simple and, in fact, coffee doesn’t actually sober you up at all. If you took a breath test and you were over the legal limit, and then you drank a cup of coffee, your BAC would be virtually unchanged.

The mistake that people often make is that, when they’re feeling drunk, they may be fatigued or dealing with some level of cognitive impairment. Once they have coffee, it makes them feel awake and alert. Some mistake this for feeling sober, when the truth is that they are just as impaired as they were before. Although it may help them to feel more alert while they drive, if they get pulled over, their blood alcohol concentration isn’t going to be any lower.

Your legal options

You can see how a mistake like this could lead to an unexpected arrest. If you’re facing charges, be sure you know all the legal defense options at your disposal.

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