What is often a misconception about "sobering up" after drinking?

The common misconception surrounding "sobering up" after drinking is that only time can metabolize alcohol from the body. This is because, once alcohol is consumed, the body needs time to metabolize it through the liver's natural processes. Each person's body metabolizes alcohol at a different rate, but on average, the liver processes about one standard drink per hour.

Drinking coffee, taking cold showers, or resting might be perceived as methods to sober up quickly, but they do not effectively hasten the elimination of alcohol from the bloodstream. Coffee may make an individual feel more awake, but it does not influence alcohol metabolism. Similarly, cold showers might provide a temporary shock that can make a person feel more alert but have no impact on the body's processing of alcohol. Rest can help an individual feel better, yet it does not speed up the actual breakdown of alcohol. Thus, the only true way to sober up is to allow time for the body to naturally metabolize the alcohol consumed.