Washington State Department of Licensing Knowledge Test

How long does it take for the human body to remove the effects of each alcoholic drink?

1. 30 minutes

2. 1 hour

3. 2 hours

4. 3 hours

The correct answer is: 1 hour

The human body generally takes about one hour to metabolize the effects of a standard alcoholic drink. This timeframe is based on the average rate at which the liver processes alcohol, which is approximately 0.015% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) per hour. A standard drink typically refers to beverages containing approximately 0.54 ounces (or 14 grams) of pure alcohol, such as a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1.5-ounce shot of distilled spirits. Understanding this time frame is essential for responsible drinking, as it helps individuals gauge when they might be sober enough to drive or engage in other activities requiring full cognitive and motor function. Remember that factors such as age, weight, gender, and individual tolerance can influence how quickly alcohol is metabolized, but for general knowledge and guidelines, one hour per drink is a helpful benchmark.