Drinking tea to sober up is a long-standing folk belief, and many people often use strong tea as a remedy after drinking. Some explain that drinking large amounts of tea after alcohol can increase urination, thereby flushing out some of the absorbed or unabsorbed alcohol, which may help alleviate alcohol poisoning. Others say that tea can stimulate and清醒 the brain, so drinking tea after alcohol can清醒 the mind clouded by alcohol, achieving a "sobering" effect.

Is the claim that "drinking tea can sober you up" scientifically valid?

Medical professionals believe that many drinkers often prefer drinking tea after alcohol, thinking it can help sober up. In reality, this is not the case; drinking tea after alcohol is highly harmful to the body. Li Shizhen said: "Drinking tea after alcohol harms the kidneys, causing heaviness in the waist and feet, and may lead to conditions like phlegm retention, edema, thirst, and挛痛." Modern medical research shows that alcohol strongly stimulates the cardiovascular system, and strong tea also excites the heart. Combining tea and alcohol doubles the刺激 on the heart, causing greater damage.

The harm of drinking strong tea after alcohol doesn't stop there. Using strong tea to sober up can cause the茶碱 in tea to stimulate the kidneys and accelerate利尿. Due to the rapid loss of water,乙醛, which hasn't been fully oxidized, is prematurely introduced into the kidneys, irritating them. The双重刺激 of tea and乙醛 on the kidneys leads to excessive urination, overloading the kidneys and damaging them. At the same time, the reduced water content in the body allows harmful substances to deposit in the kidneys, potentially forming stones and causing双重伤害.

Drinking tea after alcohol, especially strong tea, is not advisable. To sober up, it's better to eat fruits like柑橘, pears, or apples, or drink watermelon juice. If fruits are unavailable, a glass of juice or sugar water can also help.