Flip Cup

Flip Cup: The Fast and Noisy Team Relay

Flip Cup is a team relay race that is as much about dexterity as drinking. Two teams line up along a table, take turns finishing a small drink and then try to flip an empty plastic cup from the table edge so it lands upside down. It is quick to learn, loud, and brilliant for parties, and because the measures are tiny, it works just as well with soft drinks.

Setup

• Players: 4–16, split into two equal teams.
• What you need: A long, sturdy table, one plastic cup per player (reusable or recyclable if possible), drinks, and something to wipe up spills.
• Arrange the teams: Each team lines up along one long side of the table, facing their opponent directly opposite.
• Pour: Put a small splash in each cup, no more than 2–3 cm. Soft drinks, water or low-alcohol options are perfectly fine.

How to Play

1. Toast: Everyone raises their cup and taps the table together; it's tradition.
2. Go: The first player on each team (at the same end of the table) finishes their drink.
3. Flip: They place the empty cup upright with its base hanging slightly over the edge of the table, then flick the bottom rim upwards with their fingertips so the cup somersaults and lands upside down on the table.
4. Try again: If it lands on its side or falls off, they reset the cup and keep trying until it lands mouth-down.
5. Tag the next player: Only once the cup is successfully flipped can the next teammate start drinking.
6. Win: The first team to have every cup flipped wins the round. Play best of three or five.

House Rules

• No touching your cup again once it has landed upside down.
• Cups must be flipped from the table edge, not thrown or turned by hand.
• If teams are uneven, one player goes twice, but with a soft drink for the second turn.
• Keep the measures small and the same for everyone. The fun is in the flipping, not the volume.

Variations

• Soft-drink tournament: Play the whole thing with lemonade or water. It's every bit as competitive.
• Survivor Flip Cup: The player who finishes last on the losing team sits the next round out, until one player is left.
• Weak hand only: Everyone must flip with their non-dominant hand for a round.

Drink Responsibly

Project Beer is all for a good laugh, not for getting anyone ill. Keep the measures small, agree that anyone can play with a soft drink or water at any time, eat something first, and never pressure someone to drink. Know your limits, look after your mates, and never drink and drive. If you are under the legal drinking age, play with soft drinks only.