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HALLOWEEN DRINKING GAMES
Apple bobbing is fine for the kids. When the grown-ups want the party to actually start, these are the six Halloween drinking games we come back to. All easy to set up, all better in fancy dress, and every one works just as well with soft drinks if you would rather keep a clear head.
One rule before the fun: know your limits and look after the people around you. The best version of every game below is the one everyone still remembers in the morning.
1. Trick or Drink
Trick-or-treating, grown-up version. Line up six shot glasses and cover them so nobody can see what is inside. Fill half with a "trick" (something strong and sharp) and half with a "treat" (something sweet and soft, alcoholic or not). Each player rolls a dice and drinks the glass that comes up. The one rule we insist on: you have to be in your Halloween costume to play, because it is far funnier that way.
2. What's in the Box?
The classic gross-out game. Put a mystery object in a covered box, cold cooked spaghetti, peeled grapes, a wet sponge, and each player reaches in without looking and guesses what they are touching. Flinch, squeal or guess wrong and you drink. Works for any age group if you swap the drink for a forfeit.
3. Boozy Apple Bobbing
Write a number on each apple with a waterproof pen and float them in a bowl of water. Grab one with your teeth, check the number, and drink that many sips. Keep the numbers low and stick to a light punch rather than spirits. This one gets messy fast, which is the point.
4. Fright Night
Pick a scary film and set the rules before you press play. A sip every time someone investigates a noise alone, a bigger one every time the killer appears, swap drinks with the person next to you whenever a character screams. Half the fun is arguing over the rules before the titles roll.
5. Speak No Evil
Ban three words for the night, usually "Halloween", "costume" and "scary". Anyone who says a banned word takes a drink. Simple, brutal, and it runs quietly in the background of the whole party while everyone tries to catch each other out.
6. Werewolf
The party detective game, on theme. One player is secretly the werewolf, the group works out who, and whoever gets accused each round takes a drink while they plead their innocence. Best with six or more people and a straight face.
Drink responsibly
Every game here runs perfectly on soft drinks, mocktails or a mix, so nobody has to opt out to take part. Pace yourselves, keep water on the table, and never push a drink on anyone who does not want one.
Now sort the costumes
Every one of these plays better in fancy dress. Get the room kitted out before the first round:
- Scary Halloween costumes for the adults.
- Stag and hen party costumes if it is that kind of night.
- All Halloween suits and costumes to browse the lot.
