While many of us have fond memories of hanging out with friends and playing drinking games in college, the very nature of these games—to drink as much as possible and try not to pass out, black out or be sick—makes them highly dangerous.
Alcohol is a toxin, and drinking too much to quickly can lead to alcohol poisoning. What starts out as seemingly harmless fun can quickly go south. Here we highlight five of the most dangerous drinking games:
Vodka Eyeballing- Originating in the UK, vodka eyeballing involves pouring vodka directly into the eyes, which makes for a faster high. The danger in this exercise is that vodka can permanently damage the cornea by removing the eye’s protective membrane. No drinking game is worth potentially blinding oneself.
Edward Fortyhands- This game involves taping a 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor to each hand. Participants must finish the bottles in order to use their hands, which presents an incentive to finish as quickly as possible. In some games participants must break the bottles to get out of the duct taped contraptions, adding a significant danger factor.
Power Hour- In this game, participants take a shot (1.5 ounces) every minute for 60 minutes. This is equal to about 10 beers in an hour. That much alcohol could have hugely dangerous consequences.
21 for 21- This activity was developed to ring in friends’ 21st birthdays, and involves drinking 21 shots as quickly as possible. This amount of alcohol is extremely dangerous, and there have been numerous reported cases of deaths on 21st birthdays.
60 Seconds- Participants in this game choose a number between one and 60 and chug a pint of beer continuously when the second hand on the clock reaches their number. The last person standing wins. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Drinking games like these are popular among college students, but people can get in over their heads. While college is a time for fun and experimentation, it’s also the period during which many individuals first develop alcoholic tendencies. If you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol, Northbound Treatment Services can help. Visit our website for information about alcohol recovery programs.
Author
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Paul Alexander is the CEO, President & Founder of Northbound Treatment Network in Newport Beach, California. He believes wholeheartedly in transformational leadership, organizational health and effective, fully integrated substance use disorder and mental health treatment. With over 27 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, Paul has extensive knowledge of “in vivo” treatment modalities, clinical development, operations, strategy, marketing and financial planning. He has been widely recognized for his development of collegiate-based residential treatment programs for students in recovery and authored a research study at The University of California confirming this modality’s effectiveness.
Paul’s comprehensive professional experience, willingness to innovate, and emphasis on organizational health are vital factors in Northbound’s continued success. Paul received his Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist training at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA, and was awarded Outstanding Alumni Service Award in 2002. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, Law and Society, Summa Cum Laude, from University of California, Irvine, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles. Paul currently serves on The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) board. In addition, he serves on The Family Recovery Foundation board and The CarePossible board in Orange County; both organizations are committed to raising funds for family recovery and treatment for former military personnel. Paul is in recovery himself and lives in Orange County with his wife Silvana and his two young sons, Noah and Dean.
