incendiary : the International Rules

Many people know these rules and follow them religiously. To say they originated in New Zealand may be incorrect but in general it is found that the sole ambassadors for the sadly dying art of the formal drinking-games are New Zealanders. I think therefore it is probably fair to say, NZ is the place where the rules were formalised and established in their present incarnation.

In this page I am attempting to bring them all together as a common reference for all of us who know them but maybe not as well as we would like. These pages will therefore potentially serve as a definition of the Rules as the rigourous set of drinking guidlines they were always intended to be.

The Rules have been subdivided into four sections:

Base Rules
Optional Rules
Rules pending Evaluation
Operating Principles

Before Starting

Before embarking on your drinking adventure certain parameters must first be defined

Appoint a chairperson (and vice-chairperson for when the chairpersonn is absent) to adjudicate on all suspicious calls and rulings
Establish the depth to which you will be applying rules to your drinking activities
Decide what level of power you will invest in the chairperson. eg can they instantiate new rules at will during the session
Have ready the games you will be applying the rules too. and if you're feeling particularly generous, ensure all participants are fluent in the game mechanics. It is often better to omit this.
Define the "standard penalty" measure. This should range between 100ml and 300ml of a standard percentage beer, (4% alcohol/vol) is recommended.
Define the "extreme penalty" measure. This should range between 600ml and 1000ml of a standard percentage beer, (4% alcohol/vol) is recommended, a 20ml to 50ml standard percentage spirit, (40% alcohol/vol) is recommended, or a physical penalty such as a "group kicking".

Base Rules

Rule 1	The chairpersons verdict is final.
Rule 2	The only way to overrule a chairperson decision is by referendum.
Rule 3	The chairperson may only be removed from office by unanimous vote.
Rule 4	Voting is performed by open ballot and by the drawing of clasped thumbs to indicate affirmative, "thumbs up" or negative, "thumbs down"
Rule 5	The chairperson shall be referred to as Mr/Madam Chairman/Chairwoman at all times overriding all other naming conventions in place at that time.
Rule 6	The vice-chairperson shall be referred to as Mr/Madam Vice Chairman/Chairwoman at all times overriding all other naming conventions in place at that time.
Rule 7	The Participants are collectively known as "The Circle"
Rule 8	Permission to enter or leave the circle can only be granted by the chairperson
Rule 9	Pointing with the finger to indicate another participant, query the chair or to highlight a rule infringement is not allowed. Instead the elbow should be used.
Rule 10	You may not cross your Arms/Legs/Fingers/Eyes... Any limb or extremity.
Rule 11	You may not refer to any Participant by their Christian name. Instead you must address them by their Surname preceded by a title. Alternatively the participant may choose (subject to approval by the chair) an alias and would then be correctly addressed as follows; their title, their elected alias, any descriptive information the circle deems appropriate. eg "Mr 'The Magnificent Foobar' who prefers inflatable sheep". NB Illegal words are not permitted in an elected Alias
Rule 12	You may not refer to Alcohol in any of its common forms. Instead you may use terminology such as "Amber Liquid" or "Consumable Liquid"
Rule 13	You may not refer to a Glass/Bottle/Jug in any of their common forms. Instead you may use terminology such as "Vessel" or "Container"
Rule 14	You may not refer to the act of drinking in any of it's common forms. Instead you may use terminology such as "Consume" or "Evacuate the Vessel..."
Rule 15	You may not refer to the the body or any of its limbs in any of it's common forms. Instead you may use terminology such as "Drinking Appendage" for Arm or "Perambulation Appendage" for Leg.
Rule 16	You may not refer to physical acts in any of their common forms. Instead you may use terminology such as "Indicating with extended consumption appendage" for Pointing.
Rule 17	You may not refer to physical objects in any of their common forms. Instead you may use terminology such as "Raised surface, strategically positioned for the placement of vessels of consumption" for Table.
Rule 18	Use of "obscene" language is permitted at the chairperson's discretion.
Rule 19	The expulsion of gas through the mouth (vulg. burp) must immediately, following its completion, be accompanied by the utterance of the keyword "Wasp". Other participants are allowed to say the keyword before the offending member thus inflicting on this member one standard penalty.
Rule 20	The expulsion of gas through the anus (vulg. fart) must immediately, following its completion, be accompanied by the utterance of the keyword "Badger". Other participants are allowed to say the keyword before the offending member thus inflicting on this member one standard penalty.
Rule 21	The expulsion of vomit through the mouth (vulg. spew) must immediately, following its completion, be accompanied by the utterance of the keyword "Moth". Other participants are allowed to say the keyword before the offending member thus inflicting on this member one standard penalty.
Rule 22	Infringement of any of these rules results in one standard penalty.
Rule 23	Blatent or repeated infringement of any of these rules, subject to the chairperson's discretion, will result in one extreme penalty.
Rule 24	In cases of dispute the last infringement always applies.

Optional Rules

Optional Rule 1	You may not show your teeth. This rule is very difficult to monitor and enforce and may reduce overall playability. It is however very funny.
Optional Rule 2	The chairperson is arbitrarily entitled to demand penalties from any member of the circle. Usually this will cause dissention and a short term as chairperson.
Optional Rule 3	Drinks must be downed using only the left hand. In addition they may only be raised from and placed to a resting position with the right hand.
Optional Rule 4	You may not place or set down an empty vessel of any kind. It must be filled before being released.
Optional Rule 4 amended	An empty vessel may be placed at a level no less then 5cm above its original resting place.

Rules pending Evaluation

Evaluation Rule 1

nothing pending at this time

Operating Principles

Principle 1	Eatin's cheatin', drinkin's thinkin'
Principle 2	Tolerance and capacity for beer drinking can be gauged by frequency of urination.
Principle 3	If it's not brown, fizzy or strong its a chicks drink.

Suitable Games : A brief description.

Starting with the chairperson and progressing clockwise (or anti-clockwise) each player must consume one standard penalty. When complete they can then, at their leisure, pass the token by saying the keyword "Next". This then compels the player to their immediate left (or right) to accept the token and consume one standard penalty and so on ad infinitum...

Whizz-Bang

There are many variations on this game but the basic play is the same. eg Grand Prix, Yee Hah...

Play is started by the member commiting the last penalty. In cases of dispute or a new game play is started by the chairperson.
Play cannot be resumed until all outstanding penalties have been completed.
Error or hesitation in the passing of the token is punishable with one standard penalty.
The token is passed to an adjacent player by holding the arm across the body in the direction of the flow of play and sayong the keyword "Whizz".
The token is reversed and play passes against the flow of play by bending the arm, to bring the hand to shoulder height and saying "Boing". The arm being raised must be the one on the side of the original flow of play. ie the token must traverse the body before it is reversed.
Play can skip one player when the player holding the token performs a Bounce. This is done by bringing both hands up the shoulder height while keeping the elbows at the sides and saying the keyword "Bounce". (effectively the action would be the same as a double Boing if there was such a thing) The token will pass from the player performing the Bounce, over the next player in line, following the original flow of play to the second player.
An Alpha, like a Bounce skips one player but in this instance also reverses the direction of the flow of play. The action for the Alpha is performed by raising and clasping the hands above ones head and saying "Alpha". (Like the A in the YMCA actions)
The Bang is a unique instruction in that it has no strict definition per se. Following the direction of play the player with the token can pass to any other player in the circle by holding both hands together, extending index fingers, pointing to the token recipient and saying "Bang". (NB Even though this action contradicts Rule 9 it is legal under international rules provided it is used within the scope of this game.)
Optional illegal call sequences: Boing cannot follow Bounce. Boing cannot follow Alpha.