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Your Guide to Alcoholism.
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About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

These are the most common misconceptions that people have about drinking and the effects of alcohol, along with the actual facts.

MYTH: Beer is less intoxicating than other types of alcoholic beverage.

FACT: One 12-ounce can of beer, one 4-ounce glass of wine or one normal mixed drink or cocktail are all equally intoxicating.

MYTH: Switching between beer, wine, and liquor will make you drunker.

FACT: Mixing types of drinks may make you sicker by upseting your stomach, but not more intoxicated. Alcohol is alcohol.

MYTH: Cold Showers, fresh air or hot coffee help sober a person.

FACT: Only time will remove alcohol from the system. It takes the body approximately one hour to eliminate the alcohol in one drink. An old saying goes, "give a drunk a cup of coffee and all you have is a wide-awake drunk.

MYTH: Eating a big meal before you drink will keep you sober.

FACT: Drinking on a full stomach will only delay the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream, not prevent it. Eating before you drink is not a defense against getting drunk.

MYTH: Everyone reacts to alcohol in the same way.

FACT: Many factors that affect a person's reaction to alcohol — body weight, motabolism, gender, body chemistry, and many others.