How to Stage Your Own Beer Olympics (2024)

College

by ASiegelLast Updated Mar 10, 2022 1:11 pm

• If you want to organize your own Beer Olympics, you’ve come to the right place
• Here’s everything you need to know about the rules and events to stage a competition
• Check out more drinking games here

Unless you’ve been training your whole life, given up nights out for early morning workouts, and traded alcohol for flaxseed oil shakes, you’ll probably never get the chance to represent Team USA at the Olympics.

However, there is another kind of Olympics you can compete in; one you’ve likely been training for your entire adult life (and, if we’re being honest, probably since you were in high school): the Beer Olympics.

For the uninitiated,the Beer Olympics combine the competitive nature of intramural sports with enough beer to drown a small village. However, if you’re going to partake in the most sacred of competitions, you have to do it the correct way—and we’re here to make sure you do exactly that.

Beer Olympics Rules

Teams must be made up of no more than six participants, and no fewer than four. Every team must have an equal number of players, and it’s their job to appoint a captain. You’ll need to have a minimum of four teams, but there’s no cap on the number of squads that can participate.

When it comes to supplies, you’ll ideally want 15-20 cans of beer allocated for each person playing. With that said, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and stock up; if you run out of beer mid-competition, you are automatically disqualified from that event (it’s not like any extra beer is going to go to waste).

While each team will compete in each event, not all of them will require every member to get in on the action. The scoring system is also contingent on the number of squads: the top score is equal to the number of teams—i.e. six teams=six possible points—with the number decreasing by one for each subsequent position (the loser in each event is awarded a single point).

Finally, to avoid unnecessary arguments and geopolitical-related tensions, it’s best to have each team represent a certain color as opposed to a real, actual country.

The Beer Olympics Opening Ceremony

No Olympics are complete without an opening ceremony, and the Beer Olympics are no exception.

After each team is introduced to their song of choice, all participants participate in a traditional round of trash-talking. A ceremonial shotgun is optional, but it is highly encouraged.

Beer Olympics Events

Prior to the opening ceremony, team captains should have a meeting to determine the order of the five events. However, we advise adhering to the following format.

The Volume Chug

Number of Participants: Entire Team

This is the best event to start off with; not only does every team member get to participate, but it gives everyone the chance to catch a nice buzz right off the bat.

Rules

• Each team is given one large bucket
• Every participant dumps one can of beer into their team’s bucket
• Members work together to consume the entire bucket in the quickest time. The clock starts when the first participant begins to chug and stops when all the beer has been finished
• Points can be deducted if there is an ‘excessive’ amount of beer spilled
• Points are distributed based on the fastest times

Beer Pong (also known as “Beirut)

Number of Participants: Two per team

Beer pong is a party staple. However, this isn’t your mother’s 10 Cup.

Rules

• 21 cups are placed in a 6-5-4-3-2-1 rack
• Both teams engage in a traditional eye-to-eye shootout to determine who goes first
• “Rollback” (both team members hit a shot in the same round) and “fire” (one person makes three consecutive cups) rules apply
• Teams are invited to invite a third member to attempt a “celebrity” shot a single time during the entire game
• If the ball is bounced into a cup, that cup and another are to be consumed by one team member
  • If the ball is bounced, it can be swatted.
  • If a player knocks their own cup over on a swat, they must chug a can of beer. The opposition gets to shoot at will until that beer is finished
• If two members hit the same cup before it is removed, the game is not over. Instead, the opposing team must chug that cup in addition to two others of their opponents’ choosing

Dizzy Bat (a.k.a. “Louisville Chugger”)

Number of Participants: One (in addition to one to throw the empty can)

Dizzy Bat requires the use of a wiffle ball bat with the bottom cut off and one team member with really good hand-eye coordination.

Rules

• The bat is filled with beer. The clock starts when the player lifts the bat to chug
• After chugging is completed, the player uses the bat as a pole and spins around 10 times,
• After spinning is completed, the player attempts to hit an empty beer can soft-tossed by their teammate and repeats until successful. The clock stops when the can is struck
  • In the interest of time, the clock is capped at four minutes
• There are no penalties for a “reversal of fortune” in this event

Flip Cup

Number of Participants: Entire Team

• Each team member fills a Solo cup with a beer
• The event begins with the first two participants toasting before chugging their beer and attempting to flip it until it lands on the table with the wide side down
• The anchor (final participant) must chug two cups and successfully flip both
• All teams face off against each other until every member has served as an anchor
• Points are allotted based on the total number of wins
  • In the event of a tie, one more round is played

Civil War

Number of Participants: Threeper team

• Each participant places three cups in front of them in a triangle formation and is armed with a single ping pong ball
• If someone’s cup is hit, they must drink it and remove it from the table
• Balls can be retrieved by either team as soon as they strike a cup or hit the table
  • Players may reach across the table to retrieve a ball but cannot physically cross to the other side
• Players are only permitted to provide moral support once all of their cups have been hit
• Points are determined by how many cups the winning team has remaining at the end of each round

IF THE TOP TWO TEAMS ARE TIED AT THE END OF THE FIVE EVENTS, THE WINNER IS DECIDED BY ONE FINAL GAME OF THE VOLUME CHUG.

The Closing Ceremonies

Once all of the points have been tallied and a winner is declared, the gold medals are distributed and the ceremony ends because first place is the only place that matters in the Beer Olympics; if you’re not first, you’re last.

Additionally, any leftover cans of beer are allocated to the winners so they can enjoy the spoils of their victory.

Now, take this knowledge that I’ve bestowed upon you and make your parents proud as a Beer Olympian.