Will Ashton talks about the fun of drinking games when done safely and responsibly.
If there are two things I love in life, they are watching movies and drinking (and, of course, my family and I should probably say journalistic integrity.) So anything that combines those two acts makes for good harmony in my book.
Like many things in life, participating in a movie drinking game is an art. It requires some creativity, attention and — while it may not seem so at the time — restraint. It also often requires patience and a keen eye. And it doesn’t hurt if you have a good amount of booze at your disposal.
To stay on the side of legal caution, let’s say I have just discovered the art and joy of the movie drinking game. Having done a good amount of research (let’s also say that was for the sake of this column,) I’ve grown to learn a couple key lessons for making the most effective, yet manageable, drinking game with your movie of choice.
First off, you should find a good set of rules (or create your own.) For this sort of thing, I love to frequent the website, MovieBoozer.com. But there are a ton of good sites out there that provide moviegoers with fun, laid-back ways of getting buzzed while watching a flick. While MovieBoozer.com is the site I’d say has the most manageable drinking suggestions, along with a good sense of humor, some other goods ones include AlcoholHollywood and DrinkingCinema, to name a few.
Second, be sure that you have some buddies at hand. It may seem obvious, but there’s a special kind of loneliness that comes from watching a movie and drinking by yourself. Sure, you get drunk and that can make things better or worse, but why not invite some friends over? It’ll be your own mini, drunk Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Third, and most crucial, you need to find the right drink(s). Be advised to what you are planning for. If you’re planning to spend a good portion of the night playing drinking games back-to-back, it’s probably best to start with beer and then move on to the harder stuff. That way, you don’t pass out, die or — worst of all — throw up between watching Mean Girls and Fight Club, for example.
Now, some people like to make special mixed drinks before enjoying their films. While I’m sure that some of you can make a mean Blue Lagoon, I find it as being a fairly unnecessary and often tedious effort that takes away from the enjoyment at hand. The beauty to playing a drinking game is that it’s extremely simple. These are all tips that you can figure out yourself, but it’s not so much about what you do but how you do it.
Quite frankly, the biggest secret to having a really good drinking game is to actually not get too caught up in the rules. I know that sounds hypocritical, but it’s something I’ve found to be the truth. It’s not hard to get drunk while watching a movie; the key is to have fun while you’re doing it. Otherwise, you’re just a poor sap in a room watching The Mighty Ducks and sipping a rum and coke.
So, with that, have fun and, of course, drink responsibly.
Will Ashton is a senior studying journalism and a writer for The Post. Email him at wa054010@ohio.edu.
