'Beer Games 2' describes entertaining methods of consumption

Beer Games 2: The Exploitative Sequel
Andy Griscom, Ben Rand, Scott Johnston, Michael Balay
Mustang Publishing

For all you people with few brain cells to spare, there now comes a book that is bound to obliterate whatever remaining brain capacity you have left.

Following the success of "The Complete Book of Beer Drinking Games" comes the release of "Beer Games 2: The Exploitative Sequel" from a group of beer-loving boys from the Ivy League.

How can there be a sequel to a book that was supposed to be complete? Well, it doesn't matter, because this follow-up is chock-full of new beer games for those booze junkies who just couldn't get enough the first time around.

From variations of Quarters to a game called "U Chug" (The rules: You point to a player and say, "You chug." That player must chug), "Beer Games 2" has games that will induce various levels of worship to the Porcelain God.

The games are rated by Boot Factor, which measures the likelihood that you will puke after the particular game. A Boot Factor of 1 means that your digestive system will be fine, while a Boot Factor of 5 means that you are guaranteed to "Watusi with the Big White Woman."

One of the most interesting games is called "Quick Draw" (Boot Factor: 5), which involves two players who each wear a can of beer in a car cup-holder on their belt. In classic duel fashion, the players pace until the referee yells, "Draw!" Then the players try to be the first to drain their beer. It's definitely not brain surgery.

My personal favorite (the poet I am) is a game called "Up My Butt" (Boot Factor: 5). One player begins by saying, "There is (any random word) up my butt." The next player makes basically the same statement, but claims that an object that rhymes with the first player's object is up his butt. This goes on until a player is at a loss for a rhyming object, in which case that player either has to drink, or challenge the player before him to find a rhyming word. If that player can come up with a word, then the challenging player must drink twice. If the player can't, then he or she must drink instead.

Overall, "Beer Games 2" will only appeal to a limited audience. But people who want to find new ways of enjoying their beer will consider "Beer Games 2: The Exploitative Sequel" the most helpful book ever written ... at least since "The Complete Book of Beer Drinking Games."

- Julia Shih

07-16-97