Dispel the myths – know the reality!

Myth:  Eating will sober me up.
Reality:  Food will slow down the absorption of alcohol but it won’t help you sober up. No amount of coffee, walking, cold showers, or food will help. The liver can only process about one standard drink per hour, so time is the only thing that works.

Myth:  “Beer before liquor, never been sicker —liquor before beer, you’re in the clear.”
Reality:  This is an old urban legend used to explain why people get sick when they drink—but it’s just not true. Your blood alcohol content is what determines how drunk you are. It doesn’t matter what type of alcohol you choose to consume—too much can make you sick.

Myth: I can sleep off alcohol, and I’m okay to drive the next morning.
Reality:  Ever had that “still drunk” feeling in the morning? It’s likely because you were! Alcohol impairs your balance and coordination, which can last into the next day. It takes about one hour for your body to rid itself of each standard drink. If enough time hasn’t passed, you’re not okay to drive.

Myth:  Alcohol gives me energy.
Reality:  No, alcohol actually slows you down. Your motor skills will be affected which control the way you think, move, and react. It’s a depressant and can make you sleepy rather than alert.

Myth:  Everyone who gets drunk acts the same.
Reality:  Nope. There are lots of factors that affect the body’s reactions to alcohol, including weight, age, gender, body chemistry, genetics, amount of food and alcohol consumed — the list can go on. The way one person reacts can be vastly different from how another person reacts. You can’t predict how alcohol will affect you.

Myth:  People who can “hold their liquor” are to be envied.
Reality:  People who can drink heavily without becoming intoxicated have probably developed a tolerance for alcohol, which can indicate the onset of dependency.