Drink While You Think - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play

Drink While You Think is a drinking game in the No Equipment category for 4-15 players that takes about 15-30 min with a easy difficulty level.

Drink while thinking of answer

Equipment Needed

Setup

Sit in a circle or around a table so everyone can easily hear each other. Each player should have their own drink within reach. Decide who will start the game, and clarify the category for the first round (e.g., 'movies' or 'animals'). You'll be passing turns clockwise, so everyone knows where the flow of the game moves next.

How to Play Drink While You Think

  1. Set up the game according to basic rules
  2. Players take turns or play simultaneously
  3. Penalties result in drinking
  4. Success means assigning drinks
  5. Continue until winner emerges
  6. Loser faces final penalty
  7. Winner earns bragging rights
  8. Adjust rules as needed for your group

Tips & Strategies

Start with broad categories like 'colors' or 'countries' that give everyone more room to think without stalling too long. If you're stuck, take a sip early to buy yourself a little time, but don't drag it out too long since hesitating too much could lead to a penalty sip anyway. Be strategic when assigning drinks on your turn; pick someone who's been answering quickly to slow them down. Avoid overly niche categories unless you've got trivia buffs in the group,it's no fun when half the players are constantly drinking because they don't know any answers.

Variations

Reverse Thinking: Instead of taking a sip while thinking, you drink before giving your answer. This can make the game more chaotic, especially as rounds progress.. Speed Round: Set a timer for each turn (e.g., 10 seconds). If a player doesn't answer before the time runs out, they automatically drink and the round moves to the next person.. Penalty Categories: If a player repeats an answer or says something that doesn't fit the category, they take an extra sip as a penalty in addition to the usual sip for stalling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if two players say the same answer in Drink While You Think?
If an answer is repeated, the player who repeated it must take a penalty sip, and the turn passes to the next player.
Can you change the category mid-game?
Yes! The group can decide to change the category either after each full rotation or whenever someone struggles too long to think of an answer.
How do you determine the winner in Drink While You Think?
The game usually continues until players decide to stop or one person emerges as consistently quick in answering. Bragging rights go to whoever drinks the least and answers the most creatively or quickly.
Is there a penalty for stalling without taking a sip?
Yes, if you hesitate too long without drinking, the group can agree on a penalty sip to keep the game moving and prevent delays.

Players: 4-15 | Duration: 15-30 min | Difficulty: easy

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