Beer Dice Game Products

Common fouls include: throwing the dice below head height, catching with two hands or using your body, touching the table or cup while catching, and reaching out early to interfere with the dice path. Dropping the dice while preparing to throw also counts as a foul — the thrower must drink. If disputes arise, designate a neutral "referee" (sometimes called the "god ref") to make the final call.

The classic format is 2 vs. 2 (4 players total), with one team on each end of the table. You can also play 1 vs. 1 for a faster, more intense game. With larger groups, set up a rotation or run a bracket-style knockout tournament to keep everyone involved.

Beer dice uses a standard D6 (six-sided) die. The recommended size is 16mm or 19mm — small enough to throw accurately, large enough not to get lost. Heavier resin or solid dice are preferred over cheap plastic ones because they bounce more predictably and feel better in hand. Bright colors (like yellow or orange) make it easier to track the dice mid-air and judge where it lands.

The standard beer dice table is 8 feet long × 4 feet wide (about 2.4m × 1.2m), with a center dividing line. If you don't have a regulation table, any flat surface at least 6 feet long works — a folding table, camping table, or two pushed-together tables. The key is that each team has enough room to stand and throw from above their head.

Scoring in beer dice works like this: if your thrown dice lands and bounces on the opponent's side and they fail to catch it, you earn 1 point. If the dice hits their cup, you earn 1 point and they take a sip. If the dice sinks into their cup (called a "plunk"), you earn 2 points (or win outright, depending on house rules) and they must finish their drink. First team to reach the agreed score (usually 5, 7, 11, or 12) wins.

Landing the dice in the opponent's cup — called a "plunk" or "sink" — is the biggest play in beer dice. The defending team must drink the entire cup, and the throwing team typically earns 2 points or an instant win, depending on the rules agreed before the game. It's rare, so when it happens, expect a big reaction from everyone at the table.

Absolutely. Despite the name, beer dice works great with any drink — soda, iced tea, lemonade, or water. The drinking penalties still apply (sips and full cups), just with your beverage of choice. This makes it inclusive for non-drinkers, minors, or anyone who wants the fun without the alcohol.

In beer dice, you can never say the numbers 5 or 7 — they're replaced by "bizz" (5) and "buzz" (7). If anyone catches you saying either number — during scoring, conversation, or counting — you must immediately take a drink. This applies even when reporting the score: instead of "7 points," say "6+1" or "one more to win." It's a sneaky rule that catches people off guard and adds a lot of chaotic fun.

The dice must be thrown above your head on every toss — this is a core beer dice rule. A common benchmark is to aim for ceiling height indoors, or use a nearby lamppost or clothesline as a reference outdoors. Some groups agree the minimum is "higher than the tallest player." Throws that don't reach the required height are invalid and may result in a penalty sip.

Defenders must catch the dice with one hand only — no two-handed grabs, no using your body (chest, legs, head). You also cannot touch the table or cups while catching, and you can't reach out early to interfere with the dice's trajectory. A clean one-handed catch means the throwing team scores nothing. Drop it, and the thrower earns a point.