St. Patrick’s Day Drinking Games: 40+ Irish Party Ideas for 2026

Sláinte! Whether you’re Irish by blood, Irish by beer, or just Irish for the day, St. Patrick’s Day demands proper celebration. And proper celebration requires proper drinking games.

We’ve assembled 40+ Irish-themed drinking games perfect for house parties, pub crawls, and everything in between. From classic games with a green twist to authentic Irish traditions, these will have everyone feeling the luck of the Irish.

Classic Irish Drinking Games

These traditional pub games have been played in Ireland for generations. Time to carry on the tradition.

1. Irish Poker (Chase the Ace)

Players: 3-13

What you need: Deck of cards, drinks

How to play:

1. Deal one card face-down to each player
2. Players look at their card secretly
3. Goal: Don’t have the lowest card at the end
4. Starting left of dealer, each player can keep their card or swap with the player on their left
5. The player on your left MUST swap unless they have a King (they knock to show immunity)
6. Dealer can swap with the deck or keep their card
7. Everyone reveals—lowest card drinks
8. Aces are lowest, Kings are highest and immune

Pro tip: If you get passed a bad card, you can’t refuse. That’s the Irish way.

2. Boxty (Spoof)

Players: 3-8

What you need: 3 coins per player, drinks

How to play:

1. Each player holds 0-3 coins hidden in their fist
2. All fists go in the center
3. Going around, each player guesses the TOTAL number of coins
4. No repeated guesses
5. Everyone reveals—whoever guessed correctly is OUT (safe)
6. If nobody guessed correctly, continue with same coins
7. Last person remaining drinks

Irish variation: Play for shots of whiskey. Loser buys the next round.

3. Fuzzy Duck

Players: 4+

What you need: Just drinks

How to play:

1. Sit in a circle
2. First player says “Fuzzy Duck”
3. Next player can say “Fuzzy Duck” (continues direction) or “Does He?” (reverses)
4. After “Does He?”, the phrase becomes “Ducky Fuzz”
5. Continue reversing with “Does He?”
6. Anyone who hesitates, messes up, or says what it sounds like drinks

Why it’s perfect for St. Paddy’s: Gets funnier (and harder) as the Guinness flows. The accidental profanity is the point.

4. Twenty-Ones (Irish 21)

Players: 4+

What you need: Just drinks

How to play:

1. Players count from 1 to 21 around the circle
2. Each player says 1, 2, or 3 consecutive numbers
3. Whoever says “21” drinks AND makes a new rule
4. Rules examples: “7 and 14 switch,” “say ‘Sláinte’ instead of 5,” etc.
5. Miss a rule? Drink and restart from 1

Irish rules to add:

• Replace 17 with “St. Patrick”
• Say any multiple of 3 in an Irish accent
• Clap on green numbers (you decide which)

5. Naggin (Speed Quarters)

Players: 4-8

What you need: Quarter/coin, shot glass, drinks

How to play:

1. Players sit around a table with a shot glass in the center
2. Take turns bouncing the coin, trying to land it in the glass
3. Make it? Pass the glass and coin to anyone—they drink and try to bounce
4. Miss? Keep trying until you make it
5. If you make it on first try, make a rule

St. Paddy’s twist: Use green shot glasses. Every third make = waterfall.

Green Beer Rules (Party Games with St. Paddy’s Twist)

Take classic drinking games and add Irish flair. These work with games you already know.

6. Irish Kings Cup

Play standard Kings Cup with these St. Patrick’s themed rules:

• Ace – Waterfall: Start a “Sláinte!” waterfall
• 2 – You: Pick someone to take a “wee dram”
• 3 – Me: Take a drink, say “for me Irish heritage”
• 4 – Floor (Leprechaun): Last to touch the floor drinks
• 5 – Guys (Lads): All the lads drink
• 6 – Chicks (Lasses): All the lasses drink
• 7 – Heaven (Rainbows): Last to point up drinks
• 8 – Mate (Pub Buddy): Pick a drinking partner for the night
• 9 – Rhyme (Limerick): Start a word, go around rhyming Irish-style
• 10 – Categories: Name Irish things (cities, foods, whiskeys)
• Jack – Rule (Leprechaun Law): Make a rule everyone must follow
• Queen – Questions (Kiss the Blarney): Question game until someone fails
• King – Pour (Pot of Gold): Pour into center cup—4th King drinks it all

7. Irish Never Have I Ever

Play Never Have I Ever with St. Paddy’s themed statements:

• “Never have I ever kissed someone Irish”
• “Never have I ever been to Ireland”
• “Never have I ever dyed beer green”
• “Never have I ever been pinched on St. Patrick’s Day”
• “Never have I ever Irish exited a party”
• “Never have I ever tried to do an Irish accent”
• “Never have I ever claimed to be more Irish than I am”
• “Never have I ever had a car bomb”
• “Never have I ever worn a ‘Kiss Me I’m Irish’ shirt”
• “Never have I ever eaten corned beef and cabbage”

8. St. Paddy’s Beer Pong

Standard Beer Pong rules with these additions:

• Use green cups (obviously)
• Add green food coloring to the beer
• Pot of Gold rule: Stack one gold cup in the middle—worth 3 cups if made
• Leprechaun shot: Behind-the-back shots count double
• Rainbow rule: Make 3 in a row = opponent drinks a bonus shot
• Lucky bounce: Bounces count triple (not double) on St. Paddy’s

9. Green Cup Flip Cup

Standard Flip Cup with St. Paddy’s additions:

• Green cups required
• Winning team picks someone from losing team for an “Irish punishment” (sing an Irish song, do a jig, etc.)
• Shamrock shake: Everyone shakes their cup above their head before drinking

10. Lucky Charms

Players: 4+

What you need: Deck of cards, drinks

How to play:

1. Deal cards face-up in a row
2. Players guess higher or lower for each card
3. Wrong guess? Drink for each card in your current streak
4. St. Paddy’s rule: Green cards (clubs, spades) = double drinks if you’re wrong
5. Make it through 4 cards? You’re “Lucky” and can pass your drinks to someone else for the rest of the round

Pub Crawl Games

St. Patrick’s Day pub crawls are legendary. Make yours memorable with these games.

11. Leprechaun Hunt

What you need: Phone camera, checklist

How to play:

Create a photo scavenger hunt. First team to complete wins (losers buy shots):

• Photo with someone wearing more green than you
• Photo with a bartender
• Photo with someone with red hair
• Group photo doing an Irish jig
• Photo of three different green beers
• Photo with a shamrock decoration
• Photo with someone claiming to be Irish
• Photo kissing something Irish (person, flag, etc.)

12. Pot of Gold Challenge

Players: Group pub crawl

What you need: Gold coins (chocolate or plastic), different bars

Setup:

1. Before the crawl, have someone hide gold coins at each bar location
2. Give teams the first clue
3. Each bar = new clue to next location
4. Team that finds the most coins by the end wins
5. Losers buy the final round

13. Irish Pub Bingo

What you need: Bingo cards (make them yourself)

Create bingo squares for things you might see on a pub crawl:

• Someone doing a bad Irish accent
• Green glitter on someone’s face
• A “Kiss Me I’m Irish” shirt
• Live Irish music
• Someone ordering a car bomb
• Leprechaun hat spotted
• Someone saying “top of the mornin’”
• Group singing Irish Rover
• Green vomit (it’s St. Paddy’s, it happens)
• Someone trying to fight a bush

First bingo = free shots from the losers!

14. Bar Golf

Players: Groups

What you need: Scorecard, multiple bars

How to play:

1. Each bar is a “hole”
2. Assign a drink to each hole (beer = par 5, shot = par 2, mixed = par 3)
3. Your score = seconds to finish ÷ par
4. Example: Finish a beer in 10 seconds, par 5 = 2 strokes
5. Lowest total score after 9 “holes” wins
6. High score buys round at hole 19 (final bar)

Irish twist: Must order at least one Irish drink per bar (Guinness, Jameson, etc.)

15. The Snug Challenge

Origin: Irish pubs traditionally had “snugs”—private rooms

What you need: Map of pubs with snugs

Challenge:

• Visit as many traditional Irish pubs as possible
• At each: Take a photo in the snug (or most secluded spot)
• Everyone must be holding a drink and doing a pose
• Best snug photo judged at end of night wins

Irish Movie Drinking Games

Can’t make it out? These movie drinking games bring Ireland to you.

16. The Departed Drinking Game

Watch The Departed and drink when:

• Someone says a Boston/Irish slur
• Mark Wahlberg swears (pace yourself)
• Someone gets shot
• Jack Nicholson does something unhinged
• You’re confused about who’s a rat
• Someone mentions “rats” or “moles”
• Finish your drink: Elevator scene

17. Boondock Saints Drinking Game

Classic St. Paddy’s movie choice. Drink when:

• The brothers pray
• Willem Dafoe does something weird
• Someone dies creatively
• “Rule of thumb” or “TV” scene callbacks
• Rocco messes something up
• Irish accent gets thicker
• Finish your drink: Courtroom finale

18. Waking Ned Devine Drinking Game

Wholesome Irish comedy, less intense drinking:

• Someone mentions the lottery
• Beautiful Irish scenery shot
• Someone drinks whiskey on screen
• The naked motorcycle scene (finish your drink)
• Village conspiracy deepens

19. Darby O’Gill Drinking Game

Classic Disney St. Patrick’s choice:

• Leprechaun appears
• Someone says “Darby”
• Irish folk song plays
• Wishes are mentioned
• Sean Connery sings (double drink)
• Banshee appears (finish your drink)

Large Group Games (10+)

Hosting a big St. Paddy’s party? These games handle crowds.

20. Irish Trivia Tournament

Players: Teams of 3-5

What you need: Trivia questions, drinks

Categories:

• Irish History (Easter Rising, Great Famine, etc.)
• Irish Geography (counties, rivers, cities)
• Irish Music (U2, Pogues, Chieftains)
• Irish Literature (Joyce, Yeats, Wilde)
• Irish Food & Drink (whiskey brands, traditional dishes)
• Famous Irish People
• Irish Slang & Phrases

Rules: Wrong answer = team drinks. Winning team picks two people from losing team to take shots.

21. Shamrock Showdown

Players: 8+

What you need: Relay race supplies, drinks

Events (do as relay):

1. Chug a green beer
2. Build a tower of 5 empty cups
3. Find the four-leaf clover (hide one real one among fake shamrocks)
4. Complete 5 flip cup flips
5. Transfer Lucky Charms with a spoon (no hands)
6. Irish jig for 15 seconds

First team to complete all events wins!

22. Pin the Beard on the Leprechaun

Yes, it’s childish. Yes, it’s hilarious after a few drinks.

• Print a big leprechaun face (no beard)
• Cut out orange beards
• Blindfold players, spin 3 times
• Closest to correct placement = safe
• Furthest away = drinks

23. Irish Roulette (Vegetable Roulette)

Players: 6+

What you need: Shot glasses, Irish whiskey, pickle juice (or green liquid)

How to play:

1. Fill most shot glasses with pickle juice or green water
2. Fill 2-3 with straight whiskey (same color)
3. Shuffle and distribute randomly
4. Everyone takes their shot at the same time
5. Whiskey recipients do a bonus dare

Leprechaun Games & Challenges

Embrace the wee folk with these mischievous games.

24. Leprechaun Says

Simon Says but Irish. The leader is the Leprechaun.

• “Leprechaun says take a drink” = drink
• “Take a drink” (without “Leprechaun says”) = DON’T drink, those who do are out
• Last person standing becomes the new Leprechaun
• Eliminated players drink during the next round

25. Gold Coin Flip

What you need: Chocolate gold coins, drinks

How to play:

1. Each player flips a gold coin
2. Guess heads or “harps” (tails)
3. Wrong? Drink and flip again
4. Right? You’re safe, pass to next player
5. Three wrongs in a row = eat the chocolate coin (while drinking)

26. Catch the Leprechaun

Players: 6+

What you need: One green hat

How to play:

1. One person wears the leprechaun hat
2. Every 5 minutes, the Leprechaun must challenge someone to a drinking contest (race, flip cup, etc.)
3. If the Leprechaun loses, the hat passes
4. If the Leprechaun wins, the loser drinks double and the Leprechaun keeps the hat
5. Leprechaun at end of night wins a prize (and probably a hangover)

27. Lucky Dice

What you need: Pair of dice, drinks

Rules:

• 7 or 11 = everyone else drinks
• Snake eyes (double 1s) = roller takes 2 drinks
• Lucky 7 three times in a row = you’re the Leprechaun (make a rule)
• Roll your age? Take that many drinks (RIP older players)

Irish Drinking Song Games

No St. Paddy’s is complete without singing. These games make it competitive.

28. Irish Song Lyric Challenge

How to play:

1. Play the first 5 seconds of a classic Irish song
2. First person to correctly sing the next line wins
3. Everyone else drinks
4. Wrong lyrics? Double drinks

Songs to use:

• Whiskey in the Jar
• Danny Boy
• Wild Rover
• Irish Rover
• Molly Malone
• The Pogues – Fairytale of New York
• U2 – With or Without You
• Dropkick Murphys – I’m Shipping Up to Boston

29. Whiskey in the Jar Drinking Game

Play the song. Drink every time you hear:

• “Whiskey” – 1 drink
• “Jar” – 1 drink
• “Musha ring dum a doo dum a da” – 2 drinks
• “Whack fol de daddy-o” – 2 drinks
• Chorus: Everyone clinks glasses and drinks together

30. Finish the Verse

Players: 4+

How to play:

1. One person starts singing an Irish song
2. Stop mid-verse and point to someone
3. That person must continue correctly OR drink
4. If they continue, they can stop and point to someone else
5. Don’t know the song? Drink and start a new one

31. Irish Accent Karaoke

Sing ANY song, but in an Irish accent.

• Group votes on accuracy
• Best accent = safe
• Worst accent = drinks
• Breaking character = drinks
• Bonus: Extra points for adding “to be sure, to be sure” between verses

Two-Player Games

Celebrating with just your Irish drinking buddy? These work for pairs.

32. Irish Arm Wrestling

Standard arm wrestling with a twist:

• Both players hold a drink in their free hand
• Loser finishes their drink
• If drink spills during match, that person loses automatically
• Irish rules: Best 2 out of 3, loser does a shot of Jameson

33. Speed Irish

Play the card game Speed. Loser of each round takes a drink. First to win 5 rounds wins overall; loser finishes their current drink.

34. Higher or Lower: Irish Edition

Guess if the next card is higher or lower. Three wrong guesses = take a shot. Add Irish questions between guesses for extra challenge.

Party Planning Tips

Essential Supplies

• Green food coloring (for beer)
• Irish whiskey (Jameson, Tullamore, Bushmills)
• Guinness (obviously)
• Irish Cream (Baileys)
• Green cups, plates, decorations
• Shamrock confetti
• Leprechaun hats and beards
• Irish music playlist

Classic Irish Drinks to Serve

• Irish Car Bomb: Half pint Guinness + shot of Baileys/Jameson, dropped in and chugged
• Black and Tan: Half pale ale, half Guinness (layered)
• Irish Coffee: Coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, cream
• Shandy: Beer with lemon-lime soda
• Green Beer: Any light beer + green food coloring

Safety Tips

• Designate drivers or arrange rides before drinking
• Eat traditional Irish food (corned beef, colcannon, soda bread) to absorb alcohol
• Hydrate between rounds
• Know your limits—the luck of the Irish won’t save you from a hangover
• Have a safe word to tap out of games

Hosting a Memorable Party

• Decorate with green, orange, and white (Irish flag colors)
• Create a playlist mixing traditional Irish music with modern Irish artists
• Set up different game stations around the party
• Award prizes for best costume, best accent, etc.
• Take lots of photos—you’ll want evidence of who won (and lost)

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most popular St. Patrick’s Day drinking game?

Irish Kings Cup and “drink when you hear an Irish accent” during movies are classics. For pub crawls, Photo Scavenger Hunts dominate.

How do you make green beer?

Add 3-5 drops of green food coloring per pint of light-colored beer (lagers work best). Stir gently. Dark beers won’t show the color.

What should I drink on St. Patrick’s Day besides beer?

Irish whiskey (Jameson, Tullamore Dew), Irish cream (Baileys), Irish Car Bombs, or Irish Coffee. Cider is also popular.

What games can kids play at a St. Patrick’s Day party?

Leprechaun Hunt (scavenger hunt), Pin the Beard on the Leprechaun, Shamrock Relay Races, and Lucky Charms sorting games all work for kids (minus the alcohol).