You decide to go out for a few drinks with friends, even though you know you will eventually have to drive home. Your plan is simply not to have so much to drink that you exceed the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit.
When it is time to go, however, you are worried about your blood alcohol concentration. One of your friends tells you to just drink a cup of coffee because that can reduce your BAC and help you sober up quickly. Is that actually true?
Coffee does not change your BAC
No, it is not true, even though it is an oft-repeated myth. Coffee is not going to have a meaningful impact on your BAC.
To get your BAC to go down, you just need to wait. For most people, their BAC drops at about 0.015% per hour. If it takes you an hour to walk to a coffee shop and drink a cup of coffee before getting in the car, your BAC will have slightly declined. But it could still very well be over the legal limit, and the coffee itself is not what caused the decline.
It is true that coffee can help wake you up. If you are feeling fatigued or groggy due to alcohol consumption, it may make you feel more sober. But it is crucial to know that you are just feeling more awake, not sober. Your BAC has not actually been reduced.
Your legal defense options
These types of myths and misconceptions can sometimes lead to drunk driving arrests. If you find yourself facing charges, be sure you know what defense options you have as your case progresses.
