Roughly how long does the body take to eliminate the alcohol in one standard drink?

On average, the body eliminates the alcohol in roughly one standard drink per hour, primarily through the liver, though the exact rate varies by individual. Importantly, nothing a person does — drinking coffee, eating, taking a cold shower — significantly speeds this process; only time reduces BAC. This is why a customer who has been drinking quickly cannot be 'sobered up' on demand, and why servers should slow service rather than assume a customer will quickly become less impaired. Understanding the elimination rate helps servers gauge intoxication realistically.