Tricks to Sober Up

Many people claim there are different tricks for sobering up, but most are ineffective. Eating bread or toast is claimed to absorb some of the alcohol, but this is not true. Alcohol is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, while the body processes food differently. There are a few simple things you can do, however, to sober up more quickly and effectively.

Consume Fructose

• Bats commonly get intoxicated from alcohol fermented in the fruits they eat. Scientists, like Francisco Sanchez at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, have observed that when the bat is "drunk," it eats certain fruits that are high in fructose, a natural sugar. This helps the bat sober up faster. Applying the same method to humans works as well. Foods high in fructose include most fruits, hard candies and soft drinks.

Light Exercise

• As featured on Mythbusters, studies have shown doing some light exercise, such as jogging or jumping jacks, can help you sober up faster. Exercise helps stimulate the body's circulation, allowing the alcohol in your blood to filter out more quickly. This method is only recommended for people who are mildly intoxicated, as the lack of motor function in highly intoxicated people makes exercise almost impossible.

Sleep/Time

• The best way to sober up by far is simply waiting. The body processes about an ounce of alcohol per hour, so it takes time for someone to completely sober up. The best way to pass the time is to sleep. Although there are many sober-up-quick pills and remedies out there, they do not make your body process alcohol any faster, so waiting is really the most effective way to sober up.