Put your sneaks on, folks.
Here at Drinking in America, we have a great respect for athletics. But, we have an even greater respect for athletics that involve booze. The Beer Mile is a tradition that has been practiced for almost three decades now and its popularity is picking up across the United States and beyond. As one of the most well known events in what competitors like to call, “digestive athletics,” the beer mile deserves a little recognition– and we’re here to give it. Here’s all you need to know:
Also known as the “chunder” mile, the athletic test consists of four beers and one mile. Competitors must drink one full beer, run one-quarter mile, and repeat that cycle three times. Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, hooligans in parts of Florida, on New England college campuses, and throughout Canada started the trend and began to test their body’s limits. It didn’t take long for people of the sport to grow a tad competitive and felt it necessary to hold the game to a certain standard– and thus, a set of rules were born.
Considered the 1st known set of rules posted in public, “The Kingston Rules” were created in no other place than Kingston, Ontario. While, there are a few variations, beer milers everywhere have adopted these rules as a way to compare the competition.
Some key points:
- Competitors must drink canned beer no less than 12 ounces in size
- Cans must be drunk from the tab on the top of the can (no tampering of the cans in any way)
- Beer must be a minimum of 5% alcohol by volume (no hard ciders, lemonades, etc.)
- If a competitor vomits before the finish of the race, they must run one penalty lap at the end of the race
So now that you’re an expert in beer mile knowledge, it’s time to get out there and give it you’re best. Good luck!
For a full ruleset, visit beermile.com/rules