Setup
Players
- Flexible, but most fun with a group of 3-8 people, the larger the group, the more turns you may need to take
Materials
- Small plates or trays for “the waiters”
- A group of friends
- Beverage of your choice or water to fill the cups, depending on the variation
- Plastic cups
- A timer
- A whistle for the referee (optional)
- Something to spin around on, like a cane or a baseball bat
Additional Setup Notes
- Choose an outdoor space if you’re worrying about spills or a roomy indoor area.
- If you’re looking to add a flair of challenge to the game, consider peppering your course with obstacles along the way!
- Choose a referee to blow the whistle and time the game, if you’d like.
Objective
The objective of this hilariously social drinking game is for players to first spin around ten times, grab a tray of drinks, and then race to the other side of the room with drinks upright on the tray. The first person to reach the end wins.
Gameplay
Start by setting up the plastic cups on the tray and fill them up with either water or a beverage of your choosing. In some variations, players must drink what’s left in the cup that is toppled, so you might want to use beer, for example. If you don’t want to waste your drinks on the game, you can also play a variation where all players take a shot at the beginning of the game, and then carry trays of water. In this case, you can forego the toppled drink rule.
There are a few ways to begin playing Drunk Waiter, you can commence the game with a chosen referee who will blow the whistle or otherwise start the race:
- All players spin around an object ten times prior to grabbing a tray of drinks and making a run for it; think a cane or a baseball bat, for example.
- Players start by taking a shot and then grabbing a tray of drinks to race to the end of the room.
- Players can also begin by just standing in a line with their trays in hand, waiting for the referee to begin the race.
The rules of Drunk Waiter are simple enough. You need to be the first to reach the other side of the room with your drinks still upright. If you are playing with an alcoholic beverage, you can apply a rule where a player has to drink what’s left in a cup if it spills or falls, and stop to do so.
If you are playing with a large group, it might be a good idea to go in stages and have 3-4 people play at a time. You can also time each round to find the ultimate winner.
Endgame
The game ends once the first person makes it to the end of the room with their drinks intact. You can play as many rounds as you’d like.
Drunk Waiter Tips
Sometimes, going slow and steady wins the race as it helps keep the cups upright. It also helps to focus on a single point in the distance to keep balance.
Drunk Waiter Variations
Want to make Drunk Waiter a more competitive or challenging drinking game with guaranteed laugh-out loud moments? Here are some Drunk Waiter variations to consider:
- Make it a timed race where the fastest drunk waiter wins.
- Double it up: Have each contestant balance trays on both hands.
- Put up obstacles: Place items like furniture, pillows, etc. on the course to make the trip to the end more challenging.
FAQs
How many people can play Drunk Waiter?
3-4 is optimal in most cases but this depends entirely on the area you’re playing in, as you’ll need to have all players stand in a single row to start the game. If you’re playing outdoors, you’ll have more room to play with multiple people.
Disclaimer
The Game Farm does not encourage or promote alcohol consumption of any kind. We do not take responsibility for any injuries, damages, or other consequences that may arise from the consumption of alcohol while playing our games.
It is the responsibility of each individual player to drink responsibly and know their limits. We recommend that players drink plenty of water and take breaks throughout the night to avoid becoming intoxicated.
If you are underage, please do not drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol underage is illegal and can have serious health consequences.
We hope you have fun playing our drinking games responsibly!
