Run five to eight events, such as beer pong, flip cup, quarters, rage cage, dizzy bat, cornhole and a relay, with teams scoring placement points in each.
At PartyGameKit, we start every rules page from the usual version of each game, so settle house rules and scoring before the first cup is filled.
Beer Olympics Games for the Schedule
Pick events that test aim, speed, and balance. The organizer question we get most often is which activities keep every player involved without causing logjams at the tables.
Beer Pong
Two teams face off at opposite ends of a long folding table. Each side arranges ten plastic cups in a triangle pointing toward the center of the table. Players alternate tossing ping pong balls across the table, aiming to sink them into the opposing cups. When a ball lands in a cup, a player on the defending team drinks the contents, removes the cup from the formation, and sets it aside. The first team to eliminate all ten of the opponent’s cups wins the heat.
Flip Cup
Flip cup runs as a rapid team relay. Two squads line up on opposite sides of a long table, with each player standing directly across from an opponent. Every player sets a cup filled with a small pour on the table in front of them. The first two players drink, place their empty cups mouth-up slightly overhanging the edge of the table, and attempt to flip them upside down using only their fingertips. As soon as a player’s cup lands upside down on the table, the next teammate in line drinks and attempts their flip. The first team to successfully flip all of their cups wins the match.
Quarters
Quarters tests tabletop precision. Players sit or stand around a hard table surface and take turns bouncing a coin off the table into a cup placed in the middle. When a shooter bounces their quarter into the cup, they pick someone to take a drink. In a tournament format, run a timed round with a time limit you set, and give each team a point for every make.
Rage Cage (Slap Cup)
Players gather around a table filled with cups. Two players on opposite sides of the table start with an empty cup and a ping pong ball. Each player attempts to bounce their ball off the table surface into their cup.
Once a player sinks their shot, they immediately pass the cup and ball to the player on their left. If a player makes their shot while the person to their direct left is still trying, they stack their cup inside the opponent’s cup. The trapped player must then drink from one of the cups in the middle of the table, clear the stack, and resume shooting. The host decides how many rounds make one event.
Dizzy Bat
Dizzy bat is an active lawn challenge held on open grass. A player finishes a small pour, places their forehead against the knob of a plastic bat or pool noodle resting upright on the ground, and spins around the bat a set number of times. After completing the spins, the contestant attempts to walk or jog a short marked path to a finish line. To keep participants safe, run this game exclusively on level grass, clear away any patio furniture or yard obstacles, and keep the required spin count low.
Cornhole
Cornhole is a lawn game where players take turns tossing fabric beanbags at two slanted boards, each with a hole near the top. The full distance and scoring rules are on our cornhole rules page. Cornhole works well mid-tournament because it lowers the physical intensity while keeping teams competing.
Relay Obstacle Course
A relay course splits teams into runners who tackle different physical stations across the backyard. One teammate navigates an agility footwork pattern, the second carries a full cup across the yard without spilling, and the final runner performs a dexterity task like stacking a cup pyramid. Teammates must tag hands between segments. The squad with the lowest completion time takes first place.
| Event | Player Count | Primary Skill | Best Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beer Pong | Team vs team | Hand-eye coordination | Long folding table |
| Flip Cup | Whole team | Speed and dexterity | Long folding table |
| Quarters | Whole team | Precision bouncing | Hard tabletop |
| Rage Cage | Full group | Fast reflexes | Table with open perimeter |
| Dizzy Bat | 1 per heat | Balance | Open lawn |
| Cornhole | Pairs | Tossing accuracy | Level yard space |
| Obstacle Relay | Full team | Agility and coordination | Backyard course |
Teams, Countries and Scoring
Small teams of two to four players keep waiting times short and ensure that every attendee plays in every event.
Assign each squad a country to represent throughout the day. Teams wear matching uniforms, bandanas, or national colors to create an authentic Olympic atmosphere.
To determine the overall winner, choose your scoring system before the opening whistle:
- Placement Points System. Award points in every game based on the finishing order of the teams. In a four-team tournament, award four points for first place, three for second, two for third, and one point for last place. For an eight-team field, scale the points from eight down to one. Tally the points on a poster board after each event; the team with the highest cumulative total at the end of the day wins the tournament.
- Olympic Medal Count. Hand out gold, silver, and bronze finishes for every event. Teams track their medal tallies, and the team with the most gold medals takes the championship, using silver and bronze finishes to break ties.
- Head-to-Head Brackets. For games like beer pong and cornhole, run single-elimination or double-elimination brackets where winners advance to a championship game while losers drop to a consolation match.
Track the leaderboard on a dry-erase whiteboard or a poster board set up near the main tables. Update the standings immediately after each event so every squad knows where they stand in the rankings.
Team Names and Theme Ideas
Encourage participants to coordinate outfits that reflect their assigned nation.
Pun names for common country picks:
- Australia: The Ale-tralians
- Brazil: Brew-zil
- South Africa: Stout Africa
- Germany: Pilsner Republic
- Canada: The Can-adians
- Belgium: Belgian Waffles and Draughts
- Ireland: Dublin Stouts
Teams can create cohesive themes using matching retro tracksuits, sweatbands, knee-high tube socks, or custom printed shirts. Draping country flags over shoulders like capes or wearing bucket hats gives teams a distinct look in group photos without requiring expensive costumes.
Running the Day
Five to eight events fill an afternoon. Put a short break between events so teams can eat and drink water.
A sample schedule for five events:
- 1:00 PM: Opening Ceremony. Teams assemble in their uniforms, the host reviews the house rules for all games, and the scoreboard is introduced.
- 1:15 PM: Event 1, Flip Cup. Start with an energetic team game that involves every player simultaneously to build momentum.
- 1:45 PM: Event 2, Quarters or Cornhole. Shift to a lower-tempo precision game so players can catch their breath and converse.
- 2:30 PM: Intermission. Pause the competition for thirty minutes. Serve food, refill water glasses, and update the standings on the board.
- 3:00 PM: Event 3, Beer Pong Bracket. Run bracketed matchups at the main tables.
- 3:45 PM: Event 4, Dizzy Bat or Obstacle Relay. Move the group out to the lawn for an active outdoor competition.
- 4:30 PM: Event 5, Rage Cage Finale. Gather all teams around the table for an intense closing match.
- 5:00 PM: Medal Ceremony. Tally the final scores, hand out awards, and celebrate the winning nation.
Keep pours small throughout the day. A few ounces per turn, plus breaks between events, keeps the day from turning into a chugging contest.
Keeping It Safe
Every guest participating in a drinking game tournament must be of legal drinking age (21+ in the United States).
Set clear safety boundaries before the first match:
- Non-Alcoholic Options. Every game on the schedule works identically with water, flavored seltzer, or non-alcoholic beer. Make non-alcoholic beverages available at every station so guests can participate fully without drinking alcohol.
- Hydration and Food. Keep pitchers of fresh water, ice, and electrolyte drinks available near the game stations. Set out food before the games start, and ensure guests eat during the mid-day intermission.
- No Pressure. Never pressure any guest to consume alcohol or take turns they prefer to pass on. Teammates can substitute for one another at any point during relays.
- Zero Chugging Contests. Avoid timed chugging challenges, keg stands, or extreme drinking stunts on your schedule.
- Safe Travel Plans. Confirm transportation arrangements before opening the first event. Ensure guests have designated drivers, public transit options, or ride-share apps ready before the party begins.
Gear to Have on Hand
Set the gear out before the first event so play does not stall. Stock your stations with:
- A beer pong table or sturdy plastic folding tables for table events.
- Multiple packs of white ping pong balls so play does not pause when balls bounce into the bushes.
- Several sleeves of plastic party cups.
- An outdoor cornhole set.
- A plastic bat or foam pool noodle for dizzy bat.
- A whiteboard, dry-erase markers, and poster board for tracking the standings.
- Gold, silver, and bronze plastic medals or a trophy for the awards podium.
- Sets of matching team sweatbands or wristbands to distinguish the countries.
Expand Your Tournament Roster
If you want to swap out events or add outdoor challenges to your schedule, draw inspiration from our guides to classic lawn games and building a backyard obstacle course. For fast-paced sixty-second tabletop challenges using household items, review our collection of minute to win it games. You can also browse the party games hub or the list of party games for adults for more team competitions. For spectators between rounds, the browser-based bingo card generator prints up to 60 unique cards from a custom list of 24 or more words. It also prints a call sheet, and the free space is optional. Pick five events, assign your countries, and set up your tournament board.