Busting bar myths: Food does not sober a person up

July 3, 3:00 AMBartender ExaminerKathleen Neves

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In the state of California, it is illegal for bars or nightclubs to serve any alcoholic beverages after 2 AM. Last call is usually around 1:45 AM. After 2 AM, the streets are filled with people coming out of nearby bars and nightclubs. It’s at this time of night where late night restaurants and food chains make a bulk of their money. Clubbers and bar hoppers are looking to sober themselves up to make the drive home by filling up their stomachs with late night grub. Unfortunately, food does not sober a person up. The only thing that sobers a person up is time.

Food will help prevent a person from becoming overly intoxicated. Food helps keep the alcohol in the stomach, which slows down the rate at which it reaches the small intestine.

The best types of food to eat to prevent from becoming overly intoxicated are foods that are high in fat and/or protein. Foods such as pizza, chicken wings, cheese and deep fried-anything are some of the best choices. If you were ever wondering why typical bar food fare usually consists of pizzas, deep-fried foods and any other type of food high in fat, it is because these foods are digested more slowly which slow down the time it takes for the alcohol to reach the small intestine.

So the next time you find yourself needing to sober yourself up before the drive home after a night of drinking, remember that eating fast food or a late night meal only helps you before you start drinking. The only thing that will sober you up at that point of the night is time. Take a cab or spend the night at a friend’s house.

Source: ServSafe Alcohol (National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation)

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