Side Games

These drinking games can be played at the same time as the Main Games.

Grenade Master

At the start of any game, a Grenade Master is selected.

At any point in the course of a game, the Grenade Master can shout "Grenade!". All other players must hurry to take cover by getting under the table. The last person to do so loses and must down their drink (or other suitable punishment).

This person then becomes the next Grenade Master.

I Am Spartacus

At any time of any game, any player can choose to stand up and say "I Am Spartacus", and raise their glass before downing their drink. After which, all other players must stand up, raise their glasses, say "I Am Spartacus" and also down their drinks.

International Drinking Rules

These are rules that are often used alongside other games. They must be observed at players and at all times. Some of the common ones are listed here:

Nobody can point their finger. All 'pointing' must be done using the elbow and a bent-back arm
Players must never be referred to by their first names - only by surnames or nicknames
No swearing is allowed
The word 'drink' can not be used as a verb; 'consume' or 'imbibe' are common replacements
The little finger should not rest on the glass/bottle/drinking vessel when it is being drunk from. This is referred to as "No pinky on the drinky"
The right hand should be used to drink if the time is anything between the hour and half past the hour (i.e. the minute hand is on the right side of a watch); the left hand should be used to drink if the time is anything between half past the hour and the hour (i.e. the minute hand is on the left side of a watch)
If you buy a bottle and the seam of the glass runs through the centre of the front label, whoever bottle it is must down the bottle
'Live by the sword; die by the sword' - if you are one of these people who wants to make sure everyone drinks the full quota of their penalties, then make sure you do the same when it comes to your turn!

Is He Finnish?

This is a chant to be shouted whilst someone is downing their drink.

Someone calls out, for example, "Is he Spanish?" and everyone else replies "No!" if the drink hasn't been finished yet. This continues, using any nationality the caller chooses, until the person downing their drink is finishing. At this point, the caller shouts "Is he Finnish?" and everyone responds "Yes!"

Master Of Ceremonies

Before starting any games, three people are nominated to have special roles. These are:

Master Of Ceremonies - this person is in charge of the games. They choose all games to be played and have the ultimate say on all decisions relating to the games.
Big Snake - the Master Of Ceremonies right hand man
Weights and Measures - this person decides the amounts of all drinking penalties.

The rules every player must adhere to are:

In order to talk to the Master Of Ceremonies, a player must first declare to Big Snake that they wish to address the Master Of Ceremonies. Big Snake must inform the Master Of Ceremonies that the person wishes to talk to them, and the Master Of Ceremonies may then decide whether or not the discussion can occur.
No player may leave the table or drinking area for any reason without first obtaining permission from the Master Of Ceremonies
The drinking penalty amount decided upon by Weights and Measures must be adhered to, or further punishment may be given.

Pose Master

At the start of this drinking game, a Pose Master is elected.

This person can, at any time during whatever game is being played, adopt a pose of his/her choosing. The pose can be as surreptitious, or as obvious as they like (although it must be recognisable as a distinct pose by at least some of the other players). All the other players must copy the person as exactly as they can. The last person to copy the pose loses. The penalty is to down their drink.

The loser then takes over as Pose Master. Whatever game was being played continues. The Pose Master can then strike again at any time!

Question Master

At the start of any game, a Question Master is elected.

Whilst another game is being played, the Question Master can at any time ask another person a question.

If that person answers the question, they must drink two fingers.

However, that person can 'block' the Question Master with the response "Is that a question?". If this is said back to the Question Master, it is them that must drink the two fingers.

The role of the Question Master moves round the group every 10 minutes.

Red Car and Blue Car

Requires small red and blue toy cars, such as Micromachines. One person is in charge of the cars and, at any time, drops them in two unsuspecting pints. Whoever's drinks these are then have to race to finish the pints while everyone else sings the following lyrics from a UK advert for a Milky Way chocolate bar several years ago:

The red car and the blue car had a race

All red wants to do is stuff his face

He eats everything he sees

From trucks to prickly trees

But smart old Blue he chose the Milky Way
He's looking for a tasty treat, fluffy and light
'Cos he knows it won't spoil his appetite

Oh no! the bridge has gone!
Old Red can't carry on
But smart old Blue he chose the Milky Way!

The person who wins the drinking race is then in control of the cars.

Save The Queen

At any time a player can slip a 1 pence piece into another player's drink. If so, the player whose drink it is must down their remaining drink as quickly as possible in order to save the drowning queen.

This game is British coins, however the equivalent can be played in other countries using another particular coin. Just be quick to save whoever is drowning!

Thumb Master

At the start of any game, a Thumb Master is elected.

This person can, at any time during whatever game is being played, place either of his/her thumbs on the edge of the table. All the other players must copy the person by placing their same thumb on the table as well. The last person to do this loses. The penalty is to down their drink.

The loser then takes over as Thumb Master. Whatever game was being played continues. The Thumb Master can then strike again at any time!