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Alcohol Server · Alcohol and the Body

Can coffee, a cold shower, or fresh air make an intoxicated person sober?

Correct answer

No — only time reduces BAC; these may make a person more alert but still impaired

  1. A Yes, coffee sobers people up
  2. B No — only time reduces BAC; these may make a person more alert but still impaired
  3. C Yes, a cold shower works instantly
  4. D Yes, fresh air removes alcohol

Why this is the answer

No. Common myths hold that coffee, a cold shower, or fresh air can sober someone up, but only time allows the body to eliminate alcohol and reduce BAC. These measures might make an intoxicated person feel or seem slightly more alert, but they remain impaired and their BAC is unchanged. This is a crucial point for servers: you cannot 'fix' an over-served customer quickly, so the responsible approach is to stop serving alcohol, offer food and water, and help arrange safe transportation. Relying on these myths endangers customers.
Source: Responsible Beverage Service — Sobering Myths

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