how long does it take to get alcohol out of your system

Alcohol typically takes about 1 hour for the body to metabolize one standard drink, but this can vary based on factors like age, weight, genetics, and the amount consumed. Alcohol can be detected in the blood for up to 12 hours, on the breath for 12 to 24 hours, in urine from 12 to 72 hours depending on the test, in saliva up to 12 to 48 hours, and in hair for up to 90 days. Complete elimination usually requires about 25 hours, considering the alcohol half-life is approximately 4-5 hours and about five half-lives are needed for full clearance. The only way to eliminate alcohol is time, as liver metabolism is the key process, and methods like drinking water or physical activity do not speed this up.