What's the longest you can be drunk? An in-depth look at alcohol metabolism

December 3, 2025 •

7 min read

The liver can only process approximately one standard drink per hour, meaning consuming more quickly can cause a dangerous buildup of alcohol in the bloodstream. This fixed rate of metabolism is the key to understanding what's the longest you can be drunk, which is not a single number but a variable based on many factors.

Quick Summary

The duration of intoxication is determined by how quickly the liver processes alcohol, a rate that varies significantly between individuals. Key factors include the amount consumed, body weight, gender, and overall health. While the feeling of drunkenness typically lasts several hours, extreme consumption can lead to extended impairment and dangerous alcohol poisoning.

Key Points

Metabolic Speed is Key: The human liver metabolizes alcohol at a constant, fixed rate of roughly one standard drink per hour; consuming more than this over time is what causes and prolongs intoxication.
Factors Influence Duration: The total time you remain drunk is not fixed but depends heavily on individual factors like body weight, gender, food intake, and the rate of consumption.
Peak BAC Varies: Drinking on an empty stomach or consuming alcohol quickly leads to a higher and faster-rising Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC), which increases the duration of impairment.
Hangovers are Different: Even after your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) returns to zero and you are no longer legally drunk, lingering hangover effects can cause cognitive impairment and fatigue for up to 24 hours.
Time is the Only Solution: Popular methods like drinking coffee or water do not accelerate your liver's alcohol metabolism; only waiting it out will truly sober you up.
Dangers of Overconsumption: Extremely heavy drinking or binge drinking can overwhelm the body, leading to life-threatening alcohol poisoning that requires immediate medical attention.

The Science of Sobriety: How Your Body Metabolizes Alcohol

Unlike food, alcohol does not require digestion. Instead, it is absorbed directly into your bloodstream, primarily through the small intestine, and then travels throughout your body. From there, the liver takes on the primary responsibility of metabolizing the alcohol at a relatively constant rate of about one standard drink per hour, or a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) reduction of approximately 0.015% per hour. The effects of being drunk last as long as the concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream remains high enough to impair your senses and coordination. This means there is no single 'longest' time, as it is a direct function of how much you drink and the time your liver requires to process it.

The Typical Intoxication Timeline

For an average person, the journey from the first sip to full sobriety follows a predictable path, but with significant variations. The initial intoxicating effects of alcohol can begin within 10 minutes of consumption, and peak BAC is typically reached within 30 minutes to 2 hours. For someone at the legal driving limit (0.08% BAC), it will take a minimum of 5 to 6 hours for their BAC to return to zero. This does not, however, account for the lingering effects of a hangover, which can involve impaired cognitive function, fatigue, and headaches for up to 24 hours or even longer in severe cases.

Factors That Influence How Long You're Drunk

Multiple variables work together to determine how long you will feel the effects of alcohol. These are not just external circumstances but internal physiological factors that affect the rate of absorption and metabolism.

Body Weight and Composition: Heavier individuals with more body tissue and blood volume have a larger area for alcohol to diffuse, resulting in a lower peak BAC compared to lighter individuals who consume the same amount.
Biological Sex: Due to differences in body composition (women tend to have more body fat and less water) and lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme that breaks down alcohol, women typically reach higher BACs and stay drunk longer than men after consuming the same amount.
Food Intake: Drinking on an empty stomach allows alcohol to be absorbed into the bloodstream much faster. Having food in your stomach, particularly high-protein meals, slows this process down, leading to a lower peak BAC.
Rate of Consumption: The faster you drink, the quicker your BAC rises. Since the liver can only process a fixed amount per hour, drinking multiple drinks in a short period overwhelms your system, prolonging the duration of intoxication.
Tolerance and Genetics: Regular heavy drinking can increase tolerance, meaning you need more alcohol to feel the effects. However, this does not mean your body processes alcohol faster. Genetic differences in enzyme production, particularly aldehyde dehydrogenase, also play a role in how quickly you metabolize alcohol.
Liver Health: For individuals with existing liver damage, such as from chronic alcoholism, the liver's ability to metabolize alcohol is compromised, which can lead to significantly longer and more dangerous intoxication periods.

Moderate vs. Heavy Drinking: A Comparison


Factor	Moderate Consumption (1-2 drinks)	Heavy/Binge Consumption (4+ drinks)
Absorption	Gradual, especially with food. Effects typically felt within 30-60 minutes.	Rapid, leading to a swift increase in BAC. Effects are felt more quickly and intensely.
Peak BAC	Lower peak, reached relatively quickly before steadily declining.	Much higher and prolonged peak BAC, putting significant stress on the body and mind.
Sobering Up Period	The liver handles processing within 1-3 hours, returning BAC to zero.	Takes much longer, potentially 12-24 hours or more depending on the amount consumed.
Lingering Effects	Minimal or no hangover effects.	Severe hangover symptoms, including nausea, headache, and cognitive impairment, potentially lasting for a full day or two.
Health Risk	Lower risk, especially with responsible consumption.	High risk of acute alcohol poisoning, severe impairment, and potential long-term damage from repeated episodes.

The Extreme End: Alcohol Poisoning and Chronic Use

For an individual engaging in extreme or binge drinking, the risk of alcohol poisoning is very real and life-threatening. Alcohol poisoning is an overdose of alcohol where the body is overwhelmed and cannot process the alcohol fast enough, causing BAC to continue to rise. The effects of alcohol poisoning can last from several hours to a couple of days and require immediate medical attention. In the most severe cases, it can cause respiratory failure, coma, or even death.

Moreover, for individuals with chronic alcohol use disorder (alcoholism), their body's adaptation and potential liver damage change the equation entirely. While tolerance may appear to make them less affected by large quantities, their body is constantly dealing with the presence of alcohol or its withdrawal. The length of time a chronic drinker might be in a state of intoxication can be perpetual if they maintain a constant level of consumption, moving from one episode of heavy drinking to the next without fully sobering up. Long-term effects can include sustained cognitive impairment even after alcohol has left the system.

Conclusion: Time is the Only Cure

Ultimately, there is no single answer to what's the longest you can be drunk. The duration is entirely dependent on the quantity of alcohol consumed and the time it takes for your body to metabolize it. Unlike popular myths suggest, nothing can speed up this process—not coffee, cold showers, or food. The only factor that brings your BAC back to zero is time. Understanding the science of alcohol metabolism and the factors that influence it is key to safe drinking and preventing dangerous situations like alcohol poisoning. The smartest approach is to drink in moderation and allow your body the time it needs to process the alcohol completely. For more information on responsible drinking and health guidelines, see the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's resources.

Key Factors for Duration of Intoxication

Metabolic Rate: The average liver processes about one standard drink per hour; this is the primary limiting factor for how long intoxication lasts.
Consumption Speed: Drinking multiple drinks quickly overwhelms the liver, causing BAC to rise sharply and prolonging the time it takes to sober up.
Body Composition: Weight, gender, and body fat percentage significantly influence how alcohol is distributed and metabolized, affecting the duration of drunkenness.
Food's Role: Eating before or during drinking slows down alcohol absorption, leading to a lower peak BAC and potentially shorter perceived intoxication.
Hangover Effect: Even after the alcohol has left your system, cognitive impairment, fatigue, and other hangover symptoms can persist for up to 24 hours or more.

FAQs

Question: Can you still be drunk the day after drinking? Answer: It is unlikely you are still legally drunk 24 hours later, but you can certainly still feel impaired and be experiencing hangover symptoms like fatigue and cognitive fog. Your BAC is likely zero, but your body is still recovering.

Question: Does drinking water or coffee sober you up faster? Answer: No. Drinking water or coffee will not speed up the rate at which your liver metabolizes alcohol. Only time can lower your Blood Alcohol Concentration. Water helps with dehydration, and coffee can make you feel more alert, but you remain impaired.

Question: How long does alcohol stay in your urine or blood? Answer: The detection time varies by the test used. Alcohol can be detected in blood tests for up to 12 hours, in breath tests for 12-24 hours, and in urine for 12-24 hours (or up to 80 hours with advanced EtG testing).

Question: What is the most dangerous scenario related to intoxication duration? Answer: The most dangerous scenario is binge drinking leading to alcohol poisoning. This happens when the body is overwhelmed by alcohol, which can lead to severely depressed breathing, unconsciousness, and even death if not treated immediately.

Question: Why do women generally get drunk faster than men? Answer: Women typically have a higher body fat percentage and less body water to dilute alcohol. They also have lower levels of the alcohol-metabolizing enzyme dehydrogenase, causing alcohol to affect them more significantly and for a longer duration.

Question: Can someone with a high tolerance sober up faster? Answer: While high tolerance means a person may feel the effects of alcohol less intensely, it does not mean their liver metabolizes it any faster. Their BAC will still decrease at the same rate, but their perception of their own impairment may be inaccurate.

Question: Can chronic alcoholism lead to prolonged periods of drunkenness? Answer: Yes. Chronic, heavy drinkers may remain in a state of intoxication for extended periods by continually consuming alcohol before their body has a chance to fully process the previous intake. Liver damage from chronic use can also impair the metabolism rate.

Citations

American Addiction Centers, "How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?", americanaddictioncenters.org.
Assure Recovery, "How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System? Detection ...", assurerecovery.com.
Valley Forge Medical Center, "Knowledge on Alcohol Exiting the System Timeline", vfmc.net.
Princeton University, "Alcohol and Your Health & Wellness", umatter.princeton.edu.
Sequoia Behavioral Health, "How Long Alcohol Poisoning Lasts, & The Dangers Involved", sequoiabehavioralhealth.org.
Healthline, "Why Does Alcohol Make You Drunk? How It Happens", healthline.com.
Healthline, "How Long Does Being Drunk Last? What to Expect", healthline.com.
American Addiction Centers, "How Long To Reverse Effects of Alcohol Abuse?", americanaddictioncenters.org.
The Recovery Village, "How Long Does Alcohol Stay In Your System?", therecoveryvillage.com.
Reset IV, "How Long Does Being Drunk Last?", resetiv.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is highly unlikely you would still be legally drunk 24 hours after drinking, as your BAC should be back to zero. However, you can certainly still feel impaired and be experiencing hangover symptoms like fatigue, headache, and reduced cognitive function.

No, this is a common myth. Drinking water or coffee will not speed up the rate at which your liver metabolizes alcohol. Water helps with dehydration, and caffeine can make you feel more alert, but you remain physically and cognitively impaired until your body processes the alcohol.

The detection time for alcohol varies by the test. Alcohol can typically be detected in blood tests for up to 12 hours and in standard urine tests for 12-24 hours. Advanced urine tests (EtG) can detect metabolites for up to 80 hours after consumption.

The most dangerous scenario is binge drinking leading to alcohol poisoning. This happens when the body is overwhelmed by alcohol, which can lead to severely depressed breathing, unconsciousness, and even death if not treated immediately.

Due to differences in body composition, women typically have a higher body fat percentage and less body water to dilute alcohol. They also have lower levels of the alcohol-metabolizing enzyme dehydrogenase, causing alcohol to affect them more significantly and for a longer duration.

No. While high tolerance means a person may feel the effects of alcohol less intensely, it does not mean their liver metabolizes alcohol any faster. Their BAC will still decrease at the same rate, but their perception of their own impairment may be inaccurate, which can lead to risky behaviors.

Yes. Chronic, heavy drinkers may remain in a state of intoxication for extended periods by continually consuming alcohol before their body has a chance to fully process the previous intake. Liver damage from chronic use can also impair the metabolism rate.