Caffeine does not sober you up

If you’ve had too much to drink and you are thinking of driving home, it may be tempting to try and have some coffee to wake yourself up. Whether you try an energy drink or a cup of coffee, nothing is going to change the fact that your blood alcohol level is above the limit.

Research on mice showed that coffee may make you feel that you are coming to your senses - but it is only an illusion.

In the study, mice given varying doses of alcohol and caffeine had to navigate a maze so as to avoid unpleasant stimuli, such as bright lights and loud noises.

The combination of alcohol and caffeine produces a potentially lethal mix that makes it harder to realize you are actually drunk, the study indicates.

Caffeine can make you feel more awake, but awake is not the same as sober. Only time will sober you up and there is nothing you can do but wait or find someone else to drive you home.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that caffeine will make them sober. It is understandable considering that alcohol is a depressant and caffeine is a stimulant so it might make a person feel better, perhaps even fool them into thinking that they are sober enough to drive.

Here is a simple rule of thumb. Wait one hour for every drink you have had, two hours if it is a double. Body weight makes a difference so give yourself more time if you are a smaller person.