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DMV Permit · Alcohol and Impaired Driving

Which of the following will help sober you up after drinking?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Time — about one hour per standard drink

  1. A Drinking coffee
  2. B Eating a large meal
  3. C Time — about one hour per standard drink
  4. D Taking a cold shower

Why this is the answer

Only time sobers you up. The body metabolizes alcohol at a roughly fixed rate of one standard drink (12 oz beer, 5 oz wine, or 1.5 oz spirits) per hour. Nothing speeds this up — not coffee, food, cold showers, exercise, or fresh air. Coffee may make a drunk person feel more alert, but they are still impaired. Food slows alcohol absorption if eaten before or during drinking, but does not help once alcohol is in your bloodstream. The only safe rule is: do not drive after drinking. Arrange a ride, designate a driver, or use rideshare. Most DUI/DWI arrests happen at BACs people thought were 'fine to drive'. Hangover impairment also persists after measurable alcohol is gone, so 'sleeping it off' may still leave you impaired the next morning.
Source: Standard state driver handbook, Effects of Alcohol

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About this topic: Alcohol and Impaired Driving

0.08 percent is the per se limit for non-commercial drivers in nearly every state (0.05 in Utah). Impairment begins well below the limit, and texting is comparable to driving drunk for crash risk. This is one of 6 DMV Permit questions on alcohol and impaired driving, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our DMV Permit exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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State-specific guides

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