Buzz
Additionally, explore variations and alternative rules that increase the intensity (and difficulty) of the game.
A case race is the ultimate drinking challenge at any house party, backyard day party, or Beer Olympics. It’s a straightforward test of endurance and speed—be the first team to finish a full case of beer and claim victory! In this guide, we’ll break down how a case race works, along with fun ways to spice up the usual rules. We’ve also got tips on how to drink faster and secure the win, but be warned—this game is not for the faint of heart!
Case Race Rules
Form teams of four players, each receiving a case of 24 light beers. After a group countdown, each team races to finish their case as quickly as possible. The first team to finish all 24 cans is declared the winner. In the traditional setup, each player consumes the same amount of beer (that’s 6 cans per person).
Steps
What exactly is a case race?
A case race is a competitive drinking game where teams aim to finish a full case of beer the fastest. The goal is simple: race against other teams to be the first to finish an entire case of beer. The size of the teams and the cases can vary, so the amount of beer each person drinks may differ from game to game. Since the game usually involves a lot of drinking and can take some time, it’s best played as the main event of a party or Beer Olympics rather than a pregame, which is typically faster-paced and aimed at getting everyone buzzed.
- Typically, a case race involves a 24-pack of beer and 4 players per team, with each player drinking 6 beers.
How to Play a Case Race
Grab a case of beer for each team and set up in a spacious area. There’s no limit to how many teams you can have, as long as there are at least two. Make sure to grab a 24-pack of cheap, light beer for each team, and find a large, open space like a big living room or backyard so everyone can see each other and interact while playing.
- If you're looking for a tougher challenge, go with a 30-pack of beer instead. Just be sure each team has the same size case.
- Decide whether players must drink directly from the cans (the standard rule), or if they’re allowed to use cups, beer bongs, or other tools (an alternative rule).
Divide into even teams. The standard rules have 4 players per team (with each person drinking 6 beers from a 24-pack). However, feel free to adjust the number of players depending on the crowd or personal preference. Try to balance the teams so no one team is overloaded with heavy drinkers.
- If you have an extra person, they can serve as the referee to monitor the game and make sure cans are fully finished.
- Alternative rule: For a fun twist, try uneven teams, like 3 heavy drinkers against 5 lighter drinkers, or any other mix your group agrees on.
Start drinking and keep going until the last can is empty! Once the countdown or “Go!” is given, the race begins. The aim is to finish your beers first! In the standard rules, each player drinks the same number of beers (for example, 8 beers each in a 3-player team). However, you can decide as a group to change it up and have teams finish the case with varying amounts of beers (like one player drinking 10 and others drinking 7 each).
- Make sure to clarify the rules beforehand.
- A can is only considered finished if it’s completely empty. If you have a referee, they’ll be the one to decide.
- According to the CDC, binge drinking is defined as consuming 4+ drinks for women or 5+ drinks for men in one sitting. Keep this in mind as the case race can easily get you drunk.
- Some people play fast, focusing on chugging as quickly as possible, while others take their time, and the game can last hours or even all night.
Be the first team to finish all of your beers to claim victory. The team that completely finishes 24 cans of beer first wins the case race! The referee will inspect your cans to ensure they’re completely drained; any unfinished beers won't count towards the win!
Fun & Exciting Case Race Variations
Make it a rule that throwing up is not allowed. Since the game involves chugging a lot of beer quickly, it’s possible that players might feel overwhelmed or nauseous. To ramp up the stakes, declare that any team whose player throws up is automatically disqualified from the game!
- Remember, don’t push yourself too hard! If you start to feel sick, slow down or take a quick break to let your stomach settle.
Change the number of players or the case size. With more players, each individual drinks less beer, and with fewer players, each person drinks more. You could also use different-sized cases, like a 30-pack, 12-pack, or even a 6-pack, to adjust how much each person has to drink.
- Large teams and smaller cases make for faster games, while smaller teams and larger cases can make the race last longer.
Decide how players should drink their beers. The standard rules have everyone drink directly from the cans, but you don’t have to stick to that. You can allow cups, shotgunning, beer bongs, beer bats, steins, or really any drinking vessel you can think of to add some extra fun to the game.
Have players contribute money to a prize pool for the winning team. Want a financial reason to chug beers as fast as you can? Have everyone chip in a few bucks to create a prize pot, which the winning team can split equally.
- Alternatively, you can come up with a creative punishment for the losing team(s). For instance, the winners could force the losers to take a gross shot (ever tried Malört?).
Incorporate extra challenges or mini-games during the race. Looking to add some spice to the competition? Introduce designated moments in the case race where players must complete a challenge before resuming their drinking. For example, you could make each player sprint around the block after every 3 beers or have the whole team do the hokey pokey when half the case is gone. The possibilities are endless!
- Watching players struggle to complete silly tasks while drunk is always hilarious.
- Challenge breaks also provide a pause from drinking, helping players avoid going overboard or feeling ill too quickly.
Take it easy in the days leading up to the case race. If you want to slam 6 beers without regretting it, avoid getting hungover before the race. If you know when it’s happening, pace yourself so you can drink more comfortably on the big day.
Eat a meal 3 to 4 hours before the race. Food in your stomach slows the absorption of alcohol, helping prevent you from getting too hammered too fast. Just don’t overeat since you’ll be adding a lot of beer to the mix. Aim to eat a few hours before the race to give your body time to digest a bit first.
Pick a light beer with a flavor you can handle. This isn’t the time for heavy stouts or IPAs—save those for another day. When choosing a beer for the case race, go for something cheap and light, like a pilsner or pale lager. It might not be the best beer you’ve ever had, but you’ll be drinking so quickly that you won’t notice much anyway.
- Popular case race beers include Coors Light, Natural Light, Busch, Bud Light, Miller Lite, PBR, and Keystone Light.
Pre-pour your beers if you're allowed to use cups or glasses. At the start of the race, pour out some or all of your beers to give them time to lose carbonation and warm up. Flat, room-temperature beer might not sound great, but it’s much easier to chug repeatedly than a fizzy, ice-cold brew.
- If you can only drink from cans, poke a hole in the top of your can with a key or scissors before you crack it open. This will let air into the can, allowing for a smoother pour from the regular drinking hole.
Relax your throat and avoid stopping to breathe while drinking. This technique takes practice but can turn you into a chugging expert. Take a deep, relaxed breath, tilt your head back, and start drinking. Keep your throat open and relaxed, letting the beer fall into your stomach rather than pausing to swallow or breathe (this might come easily for some, but be tough for others).
- If this technique isn't working or you feel like you're choking, stop and drink the usual way. Most people don’t master this trick, so don’t stress if it doesn’t come naturally!
Take small, controlled sips and burp often to avoid getting too full. Even though you’re drinking quickly, always keep a good seal on the can or cup to prevent swallowing excess air (the carbonation will do enough of that). It’s normal to feel bloated, so let yourself burp to create space and continue going without feeling too stuffed.
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If you plan on going out after the race, make sure you have a designated sober driver (maybe your referee) or use public transportation or a rideshare service. You’ll most likely be well above the legal limit (0.08 BAC) after playing.
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If you start feeling overly drunk or sick, slow down, take a break, or switch to water. Winning is great, but not if it means throwing up or ruining the rest of your evening!
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Keep an eye on other players during the race and help anyone who needs water or a rest if they’ve had too much to drink.
