To avoid this overload of alcohol on the liver, space your drinks, drink slowly and avoid drinking on an empty stomach. The liver is the organ responsible for processing alcohol. How quickly the liver can do this is affected by how much you drink and your genetic background. It takes the liver one hour to process one drink. Contrary to popular belief, exercise, caffeine and cold showers do not speed up alcohol breakdown.
Nothing makes the liver work faster.
However, some people such as Asians and American Indians lack the enzyme needed by the liver to breakdown alcohol and as a result, experience alcohol's effects longer than usual. On the contrary, people who drink frequently synthesize more of this enzyme and can recover more quickly from the effects of alcohol. How to help an intoxicated friend There is no way to sober up quickly. It takes time for the person to metabolize the alcohol in the bloodstream. A cold shower, black coffee, oxygen or exercise will have little effect.