Drivers know that they are not supposed to operate a vehicle while their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is over the legal limit. In some cases, drivers may decide that they want to actively try to reduce their BAC so that they can legally drive.
There are various myths about how you can do this. Some people suggest drinking a cup of hot black coffee, for example, or taking a cold shower. Others recommend drinking water or eating a large meal.
The key thing to remember is that these activities will not reduce your BAC. A cup of coffee may make you feel more alert and awake, so it can counteract the sedative nature of alcohol. But just because you feel awake, that does not mean you are less impaired. If your BAC was over the legal limit, it still is.
When will your BAC naturally go down?
After you stop drinking, your BAC will start to fall on its own. Although everyone is different, the general rate of decline tends to be about 0.015% per hour.
That means you may just need to wait until your BAC gets low enough that you can drive. This could take a substantial amount of time. You are not going to reduce your BAC by a notable amount in just 30 minutes. Some people can even wake up the next morning and still have an elevated BAC, depending on how high it was before they went to bed.
If you tried doing something to reduce your BAC, like drinking a cup of coffee, you may still have been arrested for impaired driving. Take the time to look into all of your legal defense options as your case moves forward.