Idaho Written Driver's License Practice Test

The belief that drinking coffee and taking a cold shower will sober you up after drinking is a common misconception. While you might feel more alert after consuming coffee, it does not reduce the level of alcohol in your system. Alcohol impairs your ability to drive and affects your coordination and judgment, and this impairment remains until your body metabolizes the alcohol. When you drink coffee, the stimulant effects can make you feel more awake and alert, but it doesn’t counteract the effects of alcohol. Similarly, a cold shower may provide a momentary shock to your system, making you feel temporarily rejuvenated, but it does nothing to remove alcohol from your bloodstream. Thus, the combination simply results in a situation where a person is still under the influence of alcohol but may appear more alert or feel more awake. This is why the description of becoming a "cold, wet, wide-awake drunk" accurately captures the reality of trying to sober up through these means. Making sure to allow enough time for the body to metabolize the alcohol is the only way to achieve true sobriety.