NHSA Module 8 Practice Test

The rate at which alcohol is eliminated from the body is determined by liver metabolism and cannot be sped up by caffeine or energy drinks. Alcohol is mainly processed by enzymes in the liver—alcohol dehydrogenase converts it to acetaldehyde, then acetaldehyde dehydrogenase to acetate—at a fairly steady pace, roughly 0.015% blood alcohol concentration per hour, with individual variation. Caffeine and other ingredients in energy beverages don’t significantly affect those enzymes, so they don’t shorten the time needed to clear alcohol from your system. What they can do is make you feel more alert, which may mask impairment and lead to risky behavior. In short, coffee or energy drinks don’t sober you up faster; only time allows the body to eliminate alcohol.