Shotgunning a Beer Drinking Game

Puncture, pop, and chug - the racing classic done in seconds.

Also known as: Shotgun a Beer · Shotgunning

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Players 1-10

You needCan of beer, a key or tab

DrinkBeer

Intensity

Time1-5 min

Shotgunning a beer is the fastest way to drink a can, and one of the most iconic moves in party culture: punch a hole low in the side of the can, clamp your mouth over it, pop the tab, and the beer drains in seconds as air rushes in behind it. Done right, it is a two-to-three-second chug that ends with a triumphant crushed can and a roar from the crowd.

The physics are simple - the hole lets air in so the beer pours out fast instead of glugging - but the technique separates a clean shotgun from a beer-soaked shirt. This guide covers exactly where to punch the hole, how to seal your mouth, and how to pop the tab for a smooth pour, plus the safety that a fast chug demands. It slots right into a challenge games lineup or pairs with a keg stand at any tailgate.

What you need & setup

Start with a cold can of beer - cold beer foams less, and a light, lower-ABV lager shotguns most smoothly.
Grab something to punch the hole: a key, a car key, the pull-tab itself, or a dedicated shotgun tool. Avoid anything you would not want near your mouth.
Do it over a sink, outside, or somewhere a little spray does not matter - even a clean shotgun drips.
Let the can settle for a moment if it has been jostled, so it is not primed to erupt when you punch it.
If you are racing, line everyone up with identical cans and a clear start signal, and agree that finishing is always optional.

How to play Shotgunning a Beer

Hold the can sideways

Turn the can on its side and hold it horizontally. You will punch the hole in the lower side wall - the part that will sit at the bottom when you tip the can up to drink.

Punch the hole

Using the point of a key or the tab, push firmly into the aluminum near the bottom seam to make a hole, then widen it a little by wiggling it or folding a flap back. A hole about the size of a dime pours fast without spraying everywhere. Keep your fingers clear of any sharp edges.

Seal your mouth over the hole

Rotate the can so the hole is at the bottom and cover it completely with your mouth, lips sealed around it. Keep the can low and roughly horizontal for now so nothing pours yet.

Pop the tab

With your mouth sealed on the hole, pull the tab open on top. This is the moment the beer starts to flow, because opening the top lets air in and the beer rushes out of the bottom hole into your mouth.

Tip up and swallow

Raise the bottom of the can straight up and let the beer pour down. Keep your throat open and swallow continuously - the whole can empties in two to three seconds when the hole is the right size.

Crush and celebrate

When the can is empty, take it from your mouth, breathe, and (if tradition demands) crush it. Toss it in the recycling, not on the ground, and let the next racer go.

The rules

Use cans only - you cannot shotgun a bottle, and glass has no place in this.
Punch the hole low on the side wall, near the bottom seam, so it ends up at the bottom when you tip the can up.
Seal your mouth fully over the hole before you pop the tab, or you will spray beer everywhere.
Pop the tab only after your mouth is in place; the top opening is what lets the beer drain fast.
One beer per shotgun - this is a single-can move, not a chain, unless everyone knowingly agrees to more.
In a race, everyone uses the same size and strength of can and starts on an agreed signal.
Empty cans (or the last person to finish) can decide the loser, but nobody is forced to finish a can.
Anyone may sit out a round; holding the timer or judging the finish is a real role.
Never shotgun anything but beer - high-carbonation sodas spray badly and liquor at this speed is dangerous.
Mind the sharp aluminum edges on the punched hole so you do not cut your lip or fingers.
Do it over a sink or outside; even a perfect shotgun leaves a little spray.

Variations & house rules

Head-to-head race

Two or more people shotgun identical cans at once and the first empty can wins. It is the most common competitive format and a Beer Olympics staple - just match the cans and let anyone bow out without finishing.

Relay shotgun

Teams line up and each person shotguns before tapping in the next, and the first team through wins. Keep the cans light and the teams honest about who actually wants to drink, and let teammates sub in a soda can.

Shotgun and run

The 'Edward Fortyhands' cousin: shotgun a beer, then complete a lap or a task before the next. Fun, but it stacks fast intake with activity, so keep the distance short and the count low.

Soda shotgun

Non-drinkers and designated drivers shotgun a can of soda or a non-alcoholic beer for the exact same spectacle. Fair warning: fizzy soda sprays more, so lean toward a flat or lightly carbonated option.

Clean-tool technique

Instead of folding a jagged flap, some people punch a clean round hole with a dedicated shotgun tool for a smoother, more controlled pour. It reduces spray and sharp edges and is worth keeping in a tailgate bag.

Pro tips

Use a cheap, light lager and make sure it is cold - warm or hoppy, high-carbonation beer foams up and sprays.

Make the hole a touch bigger than you think; too small and the beer glugs slowly instead of pouring clean.

Get a tight lip seal over the hole before popping the tab - almost every messy shotgun is a bad seal.

Keep your throat relaxed and swallow in a steady rhythm rather than trying to hold the whole can in your mouth.

Tap the side of the can and let it settle for a second before punching if it has been carried around, to cut down on foam.

Sip water afterward and give the beer several minutes to register before deciding on another - a fast can hits later than you expect.

Where Shotgunning a Beer fits on the shelf

Shotgunning a Beer is one of the gentler picks on the shelf - 13th of 17 challenge games by intensity, rated 3 out of 5.
It is one of the few games here that genuinely works with just 1 players, and it stays fun up to 10.
Rounds are fast (1-5 min), so it slots between bigger games without hijacking the night.
Browse the full outdoor & challenge games shelf to compare all 17 games side by side.

A little history

Shotgunning is a piece of American tailgate and college folk culture with no single origin story - the trick of venting a can to make it pour faster has been passed around parking lots and backyards for decades. The name is widely thought to nod to the fast, forceful 'blast' of beer, and the move became a fixture of tailgates, camping trips and parties long before it showed up in movies and social-media challenge clips. There is no governing body and no official record book, just an enduring bit of party lore that every new group rediscovers.

Drink responsibly: Shotgunning puts an entire beer into you in seconds, so the alcohol is absorbed far faster than sipping and the real peak arrives minutes later - which is exactly why people underestimate how much they have had. Stick to one light, lower-ABV beer at a time, never let a race or a crowd push you past your limit, and know that limit before you start. Eat beforehand, drink water between cans, and space shotguns out by several minutes so a delayed spike does not sneak up on you. Never shotgun liquor or shots at this speed, watch the sharp punched edges so you do not cut your lip, and if anyone becomes confused, unsteady or drowsy, stop and look after them - alcohol poisoning is a real risk with fast intake. No race is worth it. See our safety guide for pacing tips and alcohol-free versions.

Shotgunning a Beer FAQ

How do you shotgun a beer?

Hold a cold can on its side and punch a hole in the lower side wall with a key or the tab, widening it to about the size of a dime. Rotate the hole to the bottom, seal your mouth tightly over it, then pop the tab on top. Air rushing in the top forces the beer out of the bottom hole, so tip the can straight up and swallow continuously - a light beer empties in two to three seconds. Do it over a sink and mind the sharp edges.

Where do you poke the hole to shotgun a beer?

Low on the side wall of the can, right near the bottom seam. You punch it while the can is on its side, then turn the can so that hole is at the very bottom when you tip it up to drink. Putting the hole low means gravity and the incoming air both push the beer out fast. A hole roughly the size of a dime pours quickly without spraying everywhere.

Why does shotgunning a beer make it go so fast?

It is basic physics: normally a can glugs because beer can only leave as air struggles in through the same opening. By opening a second hole - popping the top tab while beer drains from the bottom - air flows freely in the top and the beer pours out the bottom in a smooth, fast stream. That vent is the whole trick, and it is why the can empties in seconds instead of gulps.

What is the best beer to shotgun?

A cheap, light, lower-ABV lager, served cold. Lower carbonation means less foam and less spray, lower alcohol content keeps a near-instant beer from hitting too hard, and a standard aluminum can is easy to punch. Save craft IPAs and stouts for sipping - they foam more, taste harsh going down that fast, and their higher strength makes a rapid chug riskier.

Is shotgunning a beer safe?

It is riskier than sipping because you take in a whole beer almost instantly, so the alcohol hits fast and the peak lands minutes later - which is how people misjudge their pace. Keep it to light beer, never do more than your limit, and never shotgun liquor. Watch the sharp can edges, do it over a sink, eat first and drink water, and stop the moment anyone seems unwell. Treat one shotgunned beer as more than one sipped beer.

Shotgunning a Beer Drinking Game

What you need & setup