Final answer:
An intoxicated person can only become more sober by giving the liver enough time to fully metabolize the alcohol.
Step-by-step explanation:
An intoxicated person can only become more sober by giving the liver enough time to fully metabolize the alcohol. Other common methods, such as drinking coffee or taking a shower, have no impact on sobriety. It takes at least five hours for a legally intoxicated person to achieve sobriety. For an intoxicated individual to become more sober, it is required that the liver has sufficient time to metabolize the alcohol that has been ingested. Contrary to popular belief, quick fixes such as drinking coffee or taking a cold shower have no effect on the speed at which alcohol is metabolized. As a point of reference, when an individual's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reaches the legal intoxication level of 0.08%, it takes a minimum of five hours for their liver to process and bring them back to sobriety. Once alcohol is consumed, it is metabolized at a consistent rate, approximately 3.3 mmol/L (15 mg/dL) each hour, regardless of the quantity initially ingested. Therefore, the only effective method for a person to sober up is through the passage of time. Factors such as age, sex, and pre-existing health conditions can influence a person's BAC, and thereby their level of intoxication and the time required to sober up.