Will large amounts of water and to sweat a lot from exercise flush the body of alcohol? If so, how quickly?

Anything that accelerates metabolism will increase clearance of alcohol. Unassisted alcohol metabolism is rapid. About an hour and 15 minutes* for each drink consumed.

*population average based on .02 gain per drink and clearance rate of .015 ph

The effect of exercise on alcohol metabolization is minimal.


The liver can metabolize only a certain amount of alcohol per hour, regardless of the amount that has been consumed. The rate of alcohol metabolism depends, in part, on the amount of metabolizing enzymes in the liver... - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa35.htm
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The increased ethanol elimination seen in physical activity is probably due to enhanced enzyme activity in the liver induced by a rise in body temperature. Additionally a certain loss of alcohol through perspiration and exhalation is possible. - http://www.springerlink.com/content/v2u3353x3t883q1t/


Exercise: Strenuous exercise increases the body's metabolic rate on the one hand, while associated increases in breathing rates and air volumes increase the flow of alcohol across the lung membranes, caused the alcohol to be expelled through breathing at a greater rate. In one study the blood alcohol content of subjects before and after running up a flight of stairs decreased 11-14% after one trip, and 22-25% after two such trips. In another study, a 15% decrease in blood alcohol was reported in subjects following vigorous exercise or hyperventilation. - http://www.rupissed.com/thebody.html - This source does not reference the studies.

In 1968 the question was undecided. - http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v218/n5145/abs/218966a0.html