Side Games
These games are played alongside any other drinking games. Some examples follow.
Thumb Master – Before beginning any of the main games, a player is selected to be the ‘thumb master’. Every time this player places a thumb on the table, all the other participants must do it as well, and make sure that it is the same thumb. Anyone who forgets to do this or doesn’t notice has to finish their drink. After this, the loser becomes the ‘thumb master’.
Grenade Master – This is much the same as the previous side game. A ‘grenade master’ is chosen before the main game begins and this player can call out ‘Grenade’ anytime he wants and all the other players need to get under the table. The last person to do this then loses, has to finish their drink, and then becomes the new ‘grenade master’.
Pose Master – similar to the two games above, the ‘pose master’ is chosen before the main games begins and then needs to think of a pose. At any time during the game, the ‘pose master’ can perform the selected pose and all the other players need to copy it. The last person to do this has to finish their drink. As with the other games of this type, the loser becomes the ‘pose master’.
I am Spartacus – Any player at any time during the main game can stand up and call ‘I am Spartacus’, raise their glass, and then finish their drink. All other players must copy him, also finishing their drinks.
Is He Finnish? – This can be called out when someone is taking a drink. A player may call out, for example ‘Is he French?’ and all other players say ‘No!” if the drink has not yet been finished. Continuing, any other nationality can follow until the person downing the drink is finished and at this point, the player calls out ‘Is he Finnish’ and all other players reply with ‘Yes!”
Save the Queen – Any time during the course of the main game, a player can put a penny in another player’s drink and the owner of the drink must drink it to save the queen. The game can of course be adapted to using any currency.
Master of Ceremonies – Before beginning the main game, three players are chosen to have one of the following roles: The Master of Ceremonies is the person in charge and must choose all the games and decides on any decisions relating to the games being played. The Big Snake is his right-hand man and the Weights and Measures person decides on the drinking penalties.
Every other player then has to follow these rules:
- No player is allowed to leave the area of drinking without getting permission from the Master of Ceremonies.
- The penalty amount of drinking enforced by the weights and measures player have to be stuck to or another penalty can be given on top of it.
- If a player wants to speak to the Master of Ceremonies, they need to talk to the Big Snake first and then the Master of Ceremonies will decide whether or not the talk can continue.
Question Master – Before the main game begins, a Question Master is picked. At any time, the question master can ask any question to another player but if that player answers the question, then they must take two swigs of their drink. This player, can, however, block the question master by asking ‘Is that a question’ and then the question master has to drink the penalty instead. The role of question master is passed around the group every five minutes or more.
Blue Car, Red Car – This side game requires some red and blue toy cards. One player is elected to be in charge of them and at any time during the game can drop them into someone else’s drink. Whoever drinks these drinks have to race to finish the drink while all other players sing the following lyrics:
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 winner of the race then takes control of the cars.
