Can Too Much Coffee Get You a DUI in Texas? One Lawyer Says It’s Possible

Alright, Lubbock... before you down that third venti cold brew, you might want to hear this.

A Fort Worth attorney is turning heads online after posting a video explaining how you could get hit with a DUI or DWI for drinking...too much coffee. No, this isn’t a joke.

In the video, criminal defense lawyer Benson Varghese breaks down how DUI and DWI laws aren't just limited to alcohol or illegal drugs. If any substance impairs your ability to drive—even legal ones like caffeine—it could land you in hot water. He even singled out caffeine as an example.

Here's the video

Now before you panic and toss your mocha latte out the window, let’s be clear: it’s highly unlikely. But not impossible.

According to Varghese, the law doesn’t care what the substance is—it only cares if it affects your mental or physical faculties behind the wheel. That means if you’re so hopped up on espresso that you’re swerving, twitching, or reacting like a hummingbird on Red Bull, a cop could make a case for impairment.

And believe it or not, it’s happened before.

Back in 2015, a man in California was pulled over for erratic driving. He hadn’t been drinking, wasn’t on drugs—just wired on a whole lot of coffee. Prosecutors actually charged him with a DUI, citing caffeine as the only substance in his system. The case was eventually dropped due to lack of evidence, but it made headlines nationwide.

So what does this mean for us here in West Texas, where half of us are operating heavy machinery on pure caffeine and adrenaline?

Probably not much—unless you're truly out of control behind the wheel. But it’s a good reminder that even legal substances can cause problems on the road. Whether it’s caffeine, Benadryl, or too much cold medicine, if you’re not safe to drive, you're not legal to drive.

As Varghese put it:

“It’s not about what’s in your system—it’s about how it affects your ability to operate a motor vehicle.”

So sip responsibly, Lubbock. And maybe save that third espresso shot for after you park the truck.