New York DMV Permit Written TestAlcohol and Drug LawsMedium
A driver is drinking alcohol at a bar. Which of the following factors will decrease their Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) the quickest?
- ADrinking coffee
- BEating a large meal
- CTime
- DTaking a cold shower
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Time
Only time allows the liver to metabolize alcohol and reduce BAC. Coffee, cold showers, or eating might make someone feel more alert or less drunk, but they do not speed up the rate at which the body processes alcohol.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Coffee can make a person feel more alert, but does not reduce BAC.
- B. Eating a large meal before or while drinking can slow the *absorption* of alcohol, but does not speed up its *elimination* once it's in the bloodstream.
- D. A cold shower can temporarily shock the system, but does not affect alcohol metabolism.
Factors Affecting BAC Reduction
The only effective way to reduce Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is to allow time for the liver to metabolize the alcohol. No other methods, such as drinking coffee or taking a cold shower, can speed up this process.
- Liver metabolizes alcohol at a constant rate (~1 drink/hour).
- Coffee, cold showers, exercise do NOT reduce BAC.
- Food can slow absorption but not elimination.
- Time is the only factor for BAC reduction.
Memory trick: Only time ticks down the BAC.