Drinking Games You Can Play At A Bar

How common are drinking games for bars?

Do these types of games really work in a bar setting?

What are some of the limitations you might encounter when trying to play drinking games in a bar?

Here are a few downsides of playing these games in a bar:

• These games can be rowdy and noisy, and they may get you kicked out of smaller or quieter bars.
• Games may not always be good for playing with strangers.
• Some games require a large backyard space to play and can’t be played in cramped bars.

You may think that when it comes to drinking games bar settings are ideal. However, this type of setting may not always work for the kinds of games you want to play.

In this article, we’ll show you some of the best games for a bar setting so you don’t have to wonder what to play next time you go out drinking.

Read on to learn about some bar drinking games you may want to try.

Option #1. Beer Hockey

Number of Players: 3 or more

Best Alcohol: Beer

Materials Needed:

• Table
• Quarter
• Beer in bottles or cans (not glasses) for each player

How to Play

1. To get started, position each player around the table with their beer in front of them.
2. The first player then spins the quarter on the table.
3. While the quarter is spinning, the player calls out the name of any other player playing the game.
4. Everyone else playing then covers their beer with two fingers.
5. The person whose name was called then flicks the quarter and tries to hit any other player’s beer. If they hit fingers, it doesn’t count.
6. If successful, everyone removes their drinks from the table.
7. The person who flicked the quarter then spins the quarter. While it is spinning, the person whose beer they hit must chug their beer.
8. Any player can continue flicking the quarter to keep it spinning during this time.
9. If the drinker finishes their beer while the quarter is still spinning, they can slam the drink down onto the quarter. The person who last touched the quarter than has to chug their beer.
10. If the person spinning the quarter fails to get the quarter to spin within three tries, their beer goes into the center of the table for the round and cannot be guarded.

Option #2. Pool/Billiard Drinking Game Challenge

Number of Players: 2 or more (if more, divide into even teams)

Best Alcohol: Beer

Materials Needed:

• Pool or billiards table
• Balls and cues for playing pool or billiards
• Shot glasses for each player

How to Play

1. This game plays just like regular pool or billiards, but with a drinking game component included as well.
2. Before the game begins, everyone should agree on what makes a “drink” for this drinking game. Most of the time, a “drink” is a shot, but if you want the game to continue longer, it should be something smaller.
3. Set up the game as you would for a regular game of pool.
4. Players or teams take turns playing pool as normal.
5. If your opponent gets a ball, take a shot.
6. If you miss a ball, take a shot.
7. If you make a foul, take a shot.
8. If your opponent makes more than one ball in a row, you will have to take additional shots.

Option #3. Thumper

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Number of Players: 4 or more

Best Alcohol: Beer

Materials Needed:

• Table
• Individual drinks for everyone playing

How to Play

1. This classic game is very easy to get started and simple to play.
2. Begin by having everyone sit around the table.
3. Each player then must choose a gesture for the round. The gesture has to be short, but it can be vulgar (although it doesn’t have to be).
4. Players put their hands on the table and begin drumming.
5. The first player performs their gesture, then points to the next player to their left.
6. The next player then performs their gesture as well as the gesture of the person who pointed to them. They then point to another player around the table.
7. The game repeats until someone makes a mistake or is too slow. When that happens, the player must take a shot.
8. This game should be timed rather than playing to a “winner.” Optionally, you can also say that the first person to take five shots is the loser.

Option #4. Truth or Drink

Number of Players: 5 or more

Best Alcohol: Beer

Materials Needed:

• Table
• Individual drinks for everyone playing

How to Play

1. Begin setting up this game by having everyone sit around a table together with their own individual drinks.
2. You can look up questions to have on hand for playing this game, or you can come up with them on the spot. This is usually up to house rules, although when you play at a bar, it will be up to the individual who started the game.
3. The first player asks the player to their left, “truth or drink?”
4. If the player chooses truth, they have to answer a question truthfully.
5. If they choose drink, they have to take a shot.
6. The idea is to ask embarrassing, funny, or dirty questions to make the game more entertaining.

Option #5. Fingers Up

Number of Players: 4 or more

Best Alcohol: Beer

Materials Needed:

• Bowl or other large container
• Table
• Individual drinks for everyone

How to Play

1. This simple game begins with players pouring a little of their own drinks into the center bowl.
2. From there, all participating players put one finger on the rim of the cup or bowl in the center of the table.
3. The first player begins by counting down from three.
4. When the player finishes counting down, they must announce their guess at how many fingers will be left touching the bowl.
5. At the exact same time, so no one can cheat, the players participating must choose to either leave their fingers on the bowl or remove their fingers instead.
6. If the player is right, they are out of the game.
7. If they are wrong, they stay in the game.
8. Play then passes to the next player to the left.
9. The last person in the game is the loser and must drink the center bowl.
10. If a player takes too long to announce their guess, they may be cheating. They must then either chug a drink or take a shot, depending on house rules, and are out of the game.
11. It is not allowed to make impossible guesses—for example, guessing six when only five players are playing. If this happens, the player must take a shot and is out of the game.

Conclusion

Picking the right drinking game for your next bar party can take a little planning and practice. However, it’s not too difficult, as long as you know what to look for.

Here are a few characteristics of a drinking game that works well in a bar:

• Games that can be played at one table or utilizing bar items (like a pool table) are ideal.
• Games that can be played with strangers are a good choice.
• Games that aren’t so loud or active that they’ll interrupt other bar guests too much are a good choice.

Keep all this in mind when you’re trying to choose the perfect bar game for your next party or night out. And as always, remember to drink and play responsibly.