Title: “Sip, Laugh, Repeat: The Best Games to Play When You’re Drinking”
Sip, Laugh, Repeat: The Best Games to Play When You’re Drinking
Drinking games are a time-honored tradition that can turn any gathering into a night to remember (or at least attempt to). Whether you’re at a house party, a backyard barbecue, or just hanging out with friends, the right game can take the fun to the next level. Here’s a roundup of the best games to play when you’re drinking, guaranteed to get everyone laughing and, well, a little tipsy.
1. Kings (a.k.a. Kings Cup)
What You Need: A deck of cards, a large cup, drinks
How to Play: Spread the cards in a circle around the cup. Players take turns drawing a card and performing the action associated with that card (e.g., 2 is “you,” meaning you pick someone to drink; 4 is “floor,” where everyone touches the floor and the last person to do so drinks). The game ends when the last King is drawn, and that player must drink the concoction in the cup.
Pro Tip: Make sure to establish the rules for each card at the beginning, as variations can differ wildly.
2. Flip Cup
What You Need: Plastic cups, a table, drinks
How to Play: Divide into two teams. Each team member fills their cup with a small amount of drink, drinks it, and then tries to flip the cup upside down by flicking the rim with their fingers. The next player can’t start until the previous player successfully flips their cup. The first team to flip all their cups wins.
Pro Tip: Ensure your table is stable and level for the best flipping action.
3. Beer Pong
What You Need: Ping pong balls, plastic cups, a long table, drinks
How to Play: Arrange 10 cups in a pyramid shape at each end of the table. Fill the cups with beer or another beverage. Players take turns throwing ping pong balls into the opposing team’s cups. When a ball lands in a cup, the opposing team drinks the contents and removes the cup. The first team to eliminate all of the other team’s cups wins.
Pro Tip: Use water for the cups if you want to avoid drinking warm beer, and keep a separate drink for sipping.
4. Drunk Jenga
What You Need: A Jenga set, marker, drinks
How to Play: Write different actions or challenges on each Jenga block (e.g., “take 2 sips,” “give 3 sips,” “truth or dare”). Players take turns pulling out blocks and performing the actions written on them. If the tower falls, the player who caused it to fall must finish their drink.
Pro Tip: Get creative with your challenges to keep things interesting!
5. Never Have I Ever
What You Need: Drinks, a group of friends
How to Play: Players take turns making statements starting with “Never have I ever…” followed by something they have never done. Anyone who has done that thing takes a drink. The game continues with the next player making a statement.
Pro Tip: Keep the statements fun and light-hearted to avoid awkward or uncomfortable moments.
6. Power Hour
What You Need: Drinks, a timer, shot glasses
How to Play: Set a timer to go off every minute for an hour. Each time the timer goes off, everyone takes a shot of beer (or a sip of their drink). It sounds easy, but it adds up quickly.
Pro Tip: Create a playlist with a song change every minute to keep track of the time and keep the energy up.
7. Ride the Bus
What You Need: A deck of cards, drinks
How to Play: This is a multi-round game with several stages, including guessing whether the next card will be higher or lower and a final “bus” stage that involves a pyramid of cards. Players who guess wrong must drink. The final round is riding the bus, where players try to clear rows of cards by guessing correctly.
Pro Tip: This game can get complicated, so make sure at least one player knows the rules well.
8. Quarters
What You Need: A quarter, a cup, drinks
How to Play: Players take turns trying to bounce a quarter off the table into a cup. If successful, they choose someone to drink. If they miss, the turn passes to the next player. The game continues until everyone is sufficiently tipsy.
Pro Tip: Use a smooth, hard surface for the best quarter-bouncing results.
Conclusion
Drinking games are a fantastic way to break the ice, get everyone involved, and ensure your party is a hit. Just remember to play responsibly, know your limits, and ensure everyone is having a good time. Whether you’re a master at beer pong or a pro at flip cup, these games will keep the laughter and drinks flowing all night long. Cheers to good times and great friends!
