Drunk Jenga

Drunk Jenga takes the wooden block-stacking game everyone already owns and turns every move into a little challenge. Before you start, you write a rule on each block. Whenever someone pulls a block out of the tower, they read it aloud and do what it says, then place it on top as normal. The tower gets wobblier, the rules get sillier and, eventually, someone brings the whole thing crashing down. It is one of the easiest party games to set up, it works with almost any group, and once you have written your blocks you have a ready-made game for every gathering after that.

Setup

• Players: 2–8. Any more and the waits between turns get long, so split into two towers.

• What you need: A set of stacking blocks (the standard set has 54), a fine permanent marker or small stickers, a flat, steady table and a drink each.

• Write the blocks: Write a short rule on one long face of each block. If you would rather keep the set looking normal, use masking tape or small round stickers instead of marker.

• Leave some blank: Leave around a quarter of the blocks blank. A blank block means nothing happens, which keeps the game moving and gives everyone a breather.

• Build the tower: Shuffle the blocks and stack 18 layers of three, each layer at right angles to the one below. Hide the writing as much as you can so nobody can pick the block they want.

How to Play

1. Take a block: The youngest player goes first. Using one hand only, carefully remove any block from below the top complete layer.

2. Read it out: Read the rule aloud and do what it says straight away. Blank blocks mean you are safe this turn.

3. Stack it: Place the block on top of the tower to build a new layer, then play passes to the left.

4. Rules that last: Some blocks set a rule that stays in place for the rest of the game, or until another block replaces it. Anyone who breaks one takes a small sip.

5. The collapse: Whoever knocks the tower over loses the round and takes the agreed forfeit. Rebuild, shuffle and start again, with the loser going first.

Block Ideas to Get You Started

Mix the categories so the game doesn't turn into one long sip-fest. Around a third drinking rules, a third social challenges and a third rules that last, plus your blanks, is a good balance.

Drinking blocks

• Take a sip.

• Give out two sips to anyone you like.

• Everyone drinks.

• Pick a drinking buddy: whenever you drink for the rest of the game, they drink too.

• The player on your left takes a sip.

• The player on your right takes a sip.

• Everyone who has been on holiday this year drinks.

• Last person to touch their nose drinks.

• Toast the person opposite you and both take a sip.

• Swap drinks with someone for one sip, if they agree.

Social and challenge blocks

• Tell the group an embarrassing story, or take two sips.

• Do your best impression of someone at the table. If nobody guesses who it is, take a sip.

• Compliment every player.

• Name five beers in ten seconds, or take a sip.

• Rock, paper, scissors with the player on your left. The loser drinks.

• Speak in an accent until your next turn.

• Never have I ever: say one thing you have never done. Anyone who has done it drinks.

• Category: pick a subject (crisp flavours, football clubs, pubs in town) and go round the table until someone hesitates.

• Truth: answer one question from the group honestly.

• Rhyme: say a word, and go round the table rhyming with it until someone fails.

Rules that last

• Make a rule: invent a rule everyone must follow until the game ends.

• No first names: anyone who says a player's name drinks.

• No pointing.

• Left hand only: everyone must drink with their non-dominant hand.

• Question master: anyone who answers a question you ask drinks, until someone else pulls this block.

• Thumb master: put your thumb on the table at any point. Last to copy you drinks.

• Say “cheers” before every sip, or take another.

• No swearing.

• Wrong way round: play changes direction.

• Pull a second block. Yes, now.

Safe and helpful blocks

• Skip your next forfeit.

• Drink a glass of water. Everyone else should probably join you.

• Give one of your sips to someone else.

• Free pass: nothing happens.

Tips for a Better Game

• Keep sips small. “Take a sip” means a sip, not half a pint. With 54 blocks and several rounds, it adds up quickly.

• Write clearly and briefly. Blocks are narrow, so keep each rule to a few words and save the longer explanations for the group to agree at the start.

• Play on a solid table. A wobbly table or a sticky surface ends rounds early. Put drinks on a separate side table so the inevitable collapse doesn't take a pint with it.

• Make it yours. In-jokes, local pubs, names of friends and favourite beers make a set feel personal, and you can add new blocks each time you play.

• Keep it kind. Avoid rules that pressure anyone into sharing things they would rather not, and let any player swap a challenge for a sip or a pass.

Variations

• Pub quiz Jenga: Write trivia categories on the blocks (beer, sport, music, geography). The player to your left asks a question; answer correctly to give out a sip, get it wrong and take one.

• Couples or teams: Play in pairs who share a turn and a forfeit. Good for bigger groups.

• Christmas edition: Swap in festive blocks such as “sing the next line of a Christmas song”, “name all of Santa's reindeer” or “wear the paper hat until your next turn”.

• Soft drink or family version: Replace drinking forfeits with points, silly forfeits or sweets. It plays just as well without alcohol.

Drink Responsibly

Drunk Jenga should be about laughing at the tower, not about how much anyone drinks. Agree small sips, keep water and soft drinks on the table, let anyone play with a non-alcoholic drink without fuss and stop when people have had enough. Never drink and drive, and make sure everyone has a safe way home.