Drink some water, or better, coffee. Take a quick nap. Have something heavy to eat. You have probably heard of using these or other things to help sober up after having too much to drink. While they may make you feel a bit better, the actions you take after consuming alcohol may have no effect on your blood alcohol concentration.
Understanding the factors that affect your BAC level may help you avoid unnecessary arrests and the consequences you may face as a result.
Food consumed
According to The University of Texas at Austin University Health Services, the food in your stomach may affect your BAC level; however, not in the exact way you likely think. Many believe food will act as a sponge in the stomach, absorbing the alcohol. While it acts as a sort of traffic jam, reducing the risk of a rapidly elevating BAC, it does make the processing of alcohol take longer by slowing its movement from the stomach into the small intestine.
Body size
Your body size and composition will also affect your BAC level. If you have a larger build, the alcohol has more space to diffuse throughout your body. If you have a smaller build, however, the alcohol has less space to distribute, which may contribute to you having a higher BAC than someone with a large build who drank the same amount. Body fat also impacts BAC levels. With a lower body fat percentage, you may experience slower increases in BAC because the alcohol diffuses more into muscle than it does into fat.
Many drunk driving arrests depend on BAC readings to prove intoxication. Knowing the factors that affect BAC levels may help you build a solid defense.
