Texas Car / Permit practice question · Alcohol & Drugs

Roughly how long does a person's body need to clear the alcohol from a single drink?

Answer choices

• About an hour— Correct answer
• About fifteen minutes
• About three hours
• It depends entirely on what the person ate

Why this is the answer

The body needs about one hour to clear each drink consumed. Only time can reduce the effects of alcohol, and how long depends on body weight, the number of drinks and food intake. So a single drink takes roughly an hour, not fifteen minutes or three hours, and the answer is not governed by food alone. Nothing else speeds it up.

Source: Texas Driver Handbook — Alcohol and Driving

Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026