Drinking is fun, but teetotallers would like to believe otherwise. I am not saying that you go bonkers and get smashed every time you go out drinking but remember to enjoy the best that life offers. Alcohol is a great thing to add to the celebration of life.
Nevertheless, the smell of alcohol in the breath is something that many of us hate, apart from the nasty hangover that follows a night of merrymaking. Just imagine how much worse our partners and our parents would find it. Therefore, we strongly advise you to do something about that foul stench and cover up your alcohol breath right before heading home unless you want to start looking for a new place to dwell in.
Refresh Your Breath After Drinking
The typical go-to’s for getting rid of alcohol breath isn’t going to help much when your breath smells like you’re housing a distillery.
While getting rid of alcohol breath isn’t that easy. Popping a strong mint will not do the trick as alcohol breath comes from your lungs and not your mouth.
Why is it so challenging to remove alcohol breath?
Here is a fast rundown of why and how to get rid of the problem.
- Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream from the stomach and intestines when you consume it.
- Enzymes primarily secreted from the liver will eventually metabolize the alcohol so that it can be eliminated.
- Roughly 10 percent of the alcohol remains unmetabolized and gets eliminated only through urine and the breath.
It requires more than a mint to get rid of alcohol breath. One can fail a breathalyzer test even if your breath temporarily smells minty fresh. Metabolizing alcohol by your system will alone eliminate and flush out the stink.
Sorry to say that any other remedy will just mask the odour. They will not get rid of alcohol breath as your body needs time to process and eliminate the alcohol content.
Temporary Fixes to Try
Time is not on your side when you have a business meeting or a smooching session. Nevertheless, there are some temporary fixes you can always try.
- Gargling With a Mouthwash: A good gargle with an alcohol-containing mouthwash can temporarily help mask the smell of booze on your breath. You will get better results by rinsing with a mouthwash that contains alcohol and getting the refreshing mint. Someone getting up close and personal will have a more challenging time noticing the alcohol alone when mixed with the cool minty freshness and an alcohol-based mouthwash. Brushing your teeth will also enhance the prospects of hiding alcohol breath.
- Suck on Cough Drops: It is a shady way to cover up alcohol breath. Nevertheless, sucking on cough drops can provide a quick refresh for non-shady reasons. Moreover, the flavour does not matter. But sticking with non-fruity cough drops will add more bang for your buck.
- Have a Cup of Coffee: Just ask your host, the pub or bar where you are, for a cup of strongly brewed espresso or Americano coffee if you can’t get your hands on the things mentioned above. A potent brew gets rid of the smell of alcohol from your breath. And it also helps in reducing the chances of getting a hangover the following day. However, coffee will not help you sober up if you are drunk. The smell of coffee will temporarily overpower your booze breath. Coffee breath is a thing that may briefly mask the smell of alcohol.
- Eat Peanut Butter: After a good night of imbibing, peanut butter works like a charm for masking the smell of booze. Peanut butter has a distinct aroma that is thick and strong. It can leave a peanut-y film in the mouth and throat for at least a little while.
- Chew Some Mint Leaves: Try finding some fresh mint leaves if you can’t get your hands on some mouthwash. Studies have shown that this is better than chewing lozenges or mint-flavoured gums. Since they are a vital ingredient in many cocktails, mint leaves are readily available in most restaurants, bars and pubs. Just roll up two or three leaves and chew them slightly. Keep them pressed between your teeth until you feel the stinginess of the mint leaves. And then, without swallowing the leaves, take a few sips of lukewarm water and drink the liquid.
- Try Mouth Spray: Many mouth sprays have been formulated to cover up alcohol breath. So, keep a pocket-friendly spray ready if you and your friends have planned an evening out. However, ensure that your mouth spray does not have a fruity or alcoholic flavour. Remember that you cannot substitute this with perfume or deodorant. They don’t work nearly as well as mouth sprays do.
- Go for a Fully Loaded Paan: Frankly, this is a masterstroke. Many people haven’t tried or are not aware of it. A fully loaded Banarasi Paan has a powerful smell that can overpower alcohol breath. Betel leaves or paan also work as an excellent mouth freshener. However, make sure that the paan wallah does not add some sweet or alcohol-soaked cherries.
- Chew Some Cardamon: Chewing up some green cardamom will effectively conceal the smell of alcohol and cigarettes. Though this is not the best way to hide alcohol breath, it still does better than eating something smelly or nasty. Moreover, it is readily available in most bars, pubs, cigarette vendors and tea kiosks.
- Chewing Gum: Start chewing the most pungent chewing gum available at the checkout counter. Like every other method, it won’t get rid of the smell but will help mask alcohol breath until the gum loses its flavour.
How Long Will Alcohol Breath Last?
We all process alcohol at different rates. Moreover, how much time we take for alcohol metabolism also depends on personal and environmental variables impacting the process.
The body typically processes around one standard drink per hour. Give or take a little; the processing rate depends on factors like body fat percentage, your gender, and whether there is food in your stomach when you consume alcohol. The alcohol content in each drink also makes a difference. Depending on what you have been drinking, it could take from an hour to a day to fully clear things up.
Avoiding Alcohol Breath
Not drinking alcohol is the only surefire way to avoid alcohol breath in the future. There is no foolproof way to stop alcohol breath, while the internet is full of supposed miracle remedies. There is no scientific evidence as such backing them.
Nevertheless, you may be able to keep the boozy aroma on your breath to a minimum the next time you drink by following these guidelines:
- Avoid drinks with a high percentage of alcohol.
- Keep consumption to a minimum.
- Alternate between alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
- Add water or ice cubes or soda to the drink.
The Bottom Line
While you can temporarily mask alcohol breath, the most basic and obvious step is to rinse your mouth vigorously. Use a good mouthwash that does away with the smell of alcohol and gives your mouth a thorough cleansing. Ride it out and allow your body a chance to eliminate it. Booze breath can always give away that you’ve had a drink or two. You can, however, never be able to fool a breathalyser test. Masking your breath is the only way. However, alcohol breath is essentially no big deal. You can always have a mint, or even if you don’t, go on. Just don’t forget to give your mouth a nice and fresh feeling. Most often, it covers up the smell of cigarettes as well if you have also been smoking.
