Yes we (beer) can: US abuzz with State of the Union drinking game

hostednews ^ | 1 hour ago

[JoeProBono]

WASHINGTON — Around the United States, Americans are shaking furiously ahead of President Barack Obama's first State of the Union address Wednesday. But they're not trembling in fear, anger or anticipation: they're using cocktail shakers to get ready for the State of the Union drinking game.

Invented in 2002 by Marc Mezler and Howard Deutsch when they were students at Princeton University, the basic rules of the game require players to down a shot or chug a beer when the president says certain words or phrases, or speaks the names of people or countries during the key speech.

This year, "hope" and "change" both require a swig of something, as do mentions of Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran or Pakistan. "Let me be clear" and "make no mistake" get a shot each, and if Obama references problems that his administration inherited, players drink a shot of something aged. Drinks are also required if the camera zooms in on someone.

A camera shot of First Lady Michelle Obama earns a jigger, and if the camera shows the first lady's well-cut arms, players take another step towards getting well-cut themselves, in both meanings of the word, because that shot of hooch has to be delivered using a bicep curl....

[Mr. Blonde]

“a close-up on Nancy Pelosi (without the president in the shot)” gets you “1 shot, taken without moving any facial muscles”. Hahahahahaha

[lowtaxsmallgov]

I feel horrible today. I only lasted 12 minutes...

[norge]

Because of the drinking game or listening to the speech for 12 minutes?