Understanding how long alcohol stays in your system is important for your safety and health. Many people wonder how long alcohol takes to leave the body after a night out, before driving, or before taking medicines. This guide explains everything in simple words so anyone can understand it.

We cover how alcohol is processed, the factors that affect alcohol metabolism, and how to get help when alcohol becomes a problem. You will also learn how long alcohol can show up in tests like breath tests, urine tests, blood tests, and hair tests.

Let’s get started.

What Happens When You Drink Alcohol?

When you drink any alcoholic drink, the alcohol goes straight into your bloodstream. Alcohol does not need to be digested like food. Instead, it is absorbed quickly through your stomach and small intestine.

Once it enters your blood, alcohol travels to your brain, lungs, liver, and other organs. This is why you start to feel the effects within minutes.

Alcohol acts as a depressant, which means it slows down your brain and body. This is why you may feel:

• Relaxed
  
• Sleepy
  
• Slower in thinking
  
• Less coordinated
  
• Emotional
  

How Alcohol Is Processed in the Body

Your liver is the main organ that breaks down alcohol. In fact, it handles about 90% of all the alcohol you drink. The rest leaves your body through your breath, urine, sweat, and even saliva.

The Liver’s Role

The liver breaks down alcohol at a steady, slow rate. On average, the liver can break down about one standard drink per hour. But this is only an average. Some people break down alcohol faster, while others break it down much more slowly.

Because alcohol processing is slow, drinking too much too fast causes alcohol to build up in your system. This leads to intoxication, also known as getting drunk.

What Is BAC?

BAC stands for Blood Alcohol Concentration. It measures how much alcohol is in your blood.

• A BAC of 0.08 is the legal limit for driving in many places.
  
• Higher BAC means stronger effects and more risk.
  

Your BAC level starts to rise within minutes of drinking and usually reaches its highest point about 30–90 minutes after your last drink.

So, How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?

This is the big question. The answer depends on many things, but here are the general timelines.

Below is how long alcohol can be detected using different types of tests.

Breath Test (Breathalyzer)

Alcohol can be detected on your breath for 12–24 hours after your last drink.

Blood Test

Alcohol stays in your blood for up to 12 hours, but sometimes up to 24 hours depending on how much you drank.

Urine Test

There are two types:

• Standard urine tests: detect alcohol for 12–24 hours.
  
• Advanced urine tests (EtG tests): detect alcohol for 48–72 hours, and in some heavy cases up to 80 hours.
  

Saliva Test

Alcohol can show in saliva for 12–24 hours.

Hair Test

This one is surprising. Alcohol can be detected in hair for up to 90 days. Hair tests can’t tell how much you drank, but they show if alcohol use happened in that time.

How Long Does It Take You to Sober Up?

A common myth is that drinking coffee, taking a shower, or eating food helps you sober up faster. This is not true. Only your liver can remove alcohol from your body.

On average, you sober up at a rate of:

👉 0.015 BAC per hour

This means:

• If your BAC is 0.08 (the legal limit), it takes about 5–6 hours to get back to 0.00.
  
• If your BAC is 0.20, it may take 12–14 hours to fully sober up.
  

Factors That Affect Alcohol Metabolism

Not everyone processes alcohol the same way. Many factors change how long alcohol stays in your body. Here are the major ones.

1. Body Weight and Size

People with a larger body size usually have more water in their bodies. Alcohol mixes with water, so a larger person may have a lower BAC after the same drink.

Smaller or lighter people feel alcohol more quickly and take longer to process it.

2. Gender

Women usually metabolize alcohol more slowly than men. This happens because:

• Women often have less body water
  
• Women may have higher body fat
  
• Women have lower levels of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol
  

Because of this, alcohol stays longer in women’s systems.

3. Age

Older people take longer to break down alcohol. With age, the liver becomes slower and less efficient. This means alcohol can remain in the bloodstream longer.

4. Drinking History

People who drink often may have built tolerance, but this does not mean they metabolize alcohol faster. Their liver may actually be damaged, slowing down alcohol removal.

5. Food in Your Stomach

Eating before drinking slows alcohol absorption. This means your BAC rises more slowly. It doesn’t mean alcohol leaves the body faster, but it prevents spikes.

6. The Type of Alcohol

Stronger drinks like whiskey, vodka, rum, or cocktails with high alcohol content stay in your system longer than drinks like beer.

7. Medications

Some medications slow down the liver. These include:

• Pain medicines
  
• Anti-anxiety medicines
  
• Sleeping pills
  
• Some antibiotics
  

Mixing alcohol with medication can be dangerous. The alcohol may stay longer and cause stronger effects.

8. Hydration Level

Being dehydrated keeps alcohol in your bloodstream longer. Drinking water does not “flush” alcohol out, but being hydrated helps your body work normally.

9. Health Conditions

People with liver diseases such as hepatitis or fatty liver process alcohol very slowly. Alcohol can stay in the system much longer and cause serious harm.

Why Does Alcohol Stay in Your System Longer Sometimes?

Some people can drink a small amount and feel drunk for hours. Others drink the same amount and feel normal sooner. The reasons may include:

• The liver working slowly
  
• The body having less water
  
• Alcohol building up from earlier drinks
  
• Drinking too fast
  
• Mixing drinks
  

Alcohol is sneaky. Even after you stop drinking, your BAC may still rise for 30 minutes or more. This is because alcohol is still being absorbed.

How You Can Reduce the Effects of Alcohol (But Not Speed Up Metabolism)

While you cannot make your liver work faster, you can feel better by:

• Drinking water between drinks
  
• Eating food before or during drinking
  
• Drinking slowly
  
• Avoiding sugary mixers
  
• Getting plenty of rest
  

But none of these remove alcohol from your system quicker. Only time can do that.

Dangers of Driving or Working After Drinking Alcohol

Even if you “feel fine,” alcohol can still be in your body. Feeling sober and being sober are not the same.

You may still have trouble with:

• Judgment
  
• Focus
  
• Reaction time
  
• Coordination
  

This is why driving after drinking is dangerous even below the legal limit.

What About Alcohol Poisoning?

Alcohol poisoning happens when you drink more than your body can handle. It can happen fast.

Signs include:

• Vomiting
  
• Slow or irregular breathing
  
• Cold or pale skin
  
• Seizures
  
• Passing out
  

Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency. Call for help immediately.

Healthy Ways to Support Your Body After Drinking

Again, these do not clear alcohol faster, but they help your body recover:

• Drink plenty of water
  
• Eat a balanced meal
  
• Avoid more alcohol for at least 48–72 hours
  
• Sleep well
  
• Take vitamins like B vitamins (if approved by your doctor)
  

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Body

Alcohol affects almost every organ. Drinking too often or too heavily can cause:

• Liver disease
  
• Heart disease
  
• Cancer
  
• Digestive problems
  
• Depression and anxiety
  
• Memory problems
  
• Weak immune system
  

Alcohol can also damage relationships, work, and school performance.

When Alcohol Becomes a Problem

For some people, drinking becomes more than a habit. It becomes a problem that affects daily life, health, and relationships.

Signs include:

• Drinking more than planned
  
• Feeling unable to stop
  
• Drinking alone
  
• Blacking out
  
• Missing school, work, or duties
  
• Feeling guilty but still drinking
  
• Needing alcohol to relax
  

If you see these signs, you are not alone. Many people struggle with alcohol.

How to Get Help When Alcohol Becomes a Problem

Getting help is a strong and brave step. There are many options.

1. Talk to a Doctor

A doctor can guide you, check your health, and suggest safe treatment options.

2. Counseling or Therapy

Therapists help you understand your drinking patterns. They support you in making healthy changes.

3. Support Groups

Groups like:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
  
• SMART Recovery
  
• Local community support meetings
  

These groups offer understanding and support from people who know what you’re going through.

4. Rehab Programs

Rehab centers offer medical support, counseling, and a safe place to recover.

5. Family and Friends

Talking to someone you trust can help you feel supported and less alone.

Is It Possible to Drink Safely?

Yes, many people drink alcohol safely by:

• Setting limits
  
• Drinking slowly
  
• Eating before drinking
  
• Avoiding mixing alcohol with medications
  
• Never drinking and driving
  

But if you cannot control how much you drink, it may be time to seek help.

Final Thoughts: How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?

Alcohol stays in your system for hours to days, depending on your body and how much you drank. While the liver processes most alcohol in a few hours, some tests can detect it for much longer.

The key points to remember are:

• Your body needs time — you cannot speed it up
  
• Alcohol affects everyone differently
  
• Drinking safely is important
  
• Help is available if alcohol becomes a problem
  

Understanding how alcohol works helps you make safer and healthier choices.