Trash Can - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play
Trash Can is a drinking game in the Card Games category for 3-8 players that takes about 15-25 min with a easy difficulty level.
Shed cards to the trash or drink
Equipment Needed
- Standard deck of cards
- Drinks
Setup
Shuffle a standard deck of cards and deal 5 cards to each player. Place the rest of the deck in the center of the table as the draw pile, and leave space next to it for the discard pile (trash). Make sure everyone has their drink of choice within easy reach because the trash can fills up quickly.
How to Play Trash Can
- Deal 5 cards each
- Start a discard pile (trash)
- Play same suit or number
- Can't play = trash a card and drink
- Empty hand = win
- Winner assigns 5 drinks
- Most trash = extra penalty
- Fast and simple
Tips & Strategies
Keep track of suits in the discard pile,playing a matching suit prevents you from taking a penalty. When you're forced to trash a card and drink, trash high cards first since they're harder to match. If someone's down to one card, try to steer the game toward a suit or number they likely don't have, based on what they've already played. Be quick with your plays if you're playing with fast-paced friends,slow hands are easy targets.
Variations
Reverse Trash: Instead of trashing a card when you can't play, draw an extra card and drink. This makes it harder to empty your hand.. Double Penalty: The player with the most trashed cards at the end must take five extra drinks instead of the usual penalty.. Suit Lock: Once a suit is played in the discard pile, all players must continue playing that suit until it changes naturally through a number match.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens if I run out of cards in the draw pile?
- Shuffle the discard pile (excluding the top card) and place it back as the new draw pile to continue the game.
- Can I play a matching number even if the suit doesn’t match?
- Yes, matching the number on the card lets you override the suit and continue playing without a penalty.
- What does the winner assigning 5 drinks mean?
- The player who empties their hand first can distribute 5 sips of drinks to any combination of players they choose.
- What if multiple people have the same number of trashed cards at the end?
- Each tied player takes the penalty,no sharing the burden in Trash Can!
Players: 3-8 | Duration: 15-25 min | Difficulty: easy
Related Drinking Games
From Our Blog
- Weekend Party Ideas That Guarantee a Good Time — Who doesn’t love a good party, especially on the weekend? It’s the perfect time to gather your friends, let loose, and enjoy some much-needed downtime. Whether you're planning a low-key gathering or a...
- Weekend Party Ideas You’ll Love Anytime — So you’re thinking about throwing a killer weekend party, huh? Whether you’re looking to blow off some steam after a long week, celebrate something special, or just hang out with your favorite people,...
- Travel Games That Keep the Fun Flowing — Traveling is great, but let's face it, those long hours of waiting at the airport or sitting in the backseat can get pretty dull. That's where travel games come in. With a few nifty games in your back...
Browse more Card Games drinking games or see all drinking games.