How long does alcohol stay in your system?

How long alcohol stays in your system depends on factors like your body weight, metabolism, how much you drank, and whether you had food. On average, the body processes about one standard drink per hour, but alcohol can still be detected for longer depending on the test. In blood, it’s usually detectable for up to 6–12 hours, in breath for around 12–24 hours, and in urine it can be detected for up to 24–48 hours or even longer with certain tests. That said, just because you don’t feel the effects anymore doesn’t mean it’s completely out of your system, so it’s always better to be cautious, especially when it comes to things like driving.