What you need
A long table, one plastic cup for each player and something to drink. Two teams with the same number of players, usually three to six a side. Flip cup is also called flippy cup, taps or canoe.
Flip cup is an adult drinking game. Play it only with people of legal drinking age (21 in the United States), never pressure anyone to drink, keep the drink in each cup to a small sip, have water on the table between rounds, and never drive afterwards. Because it is a race, flip cup makes people drink fast: a 2017 survey by American Addiction Centers found it the most quickly intoxicating of the games people reported playing. The flipping is the fun part, so it works just as well with water or soft drinks.
Setup
The two teams stand on opposite sides of the table, facing each other. Each player has a cup in front of them, and the player directly across is their opponent. Pour the same small amount into every cup. Many groups use the first line moulded inside a plastic cup as the measure; for a responsible game, a sip at the bottom of the cup is plenty.
How to play
- The players at one end make a toast, then both start drinking at the same time.
- When your cup is empty, set it upright at the edge of the table with part of it hanging over.
- Flick or lift the bottom edge with one hand so the cup turns over and lands face down on the table.
- If it lands on its side or the right way up, reset it and try again. There is no limit on attempts.
- Only when your cup is face down may the next player on your team start drinking. The relay runs down the line.
What is not allowed
- Using two hands, or steadying the cup with the other hand.
- Blowing on the cup to help it over.
- Touching your cup before the teammate before you has flipped.
- Knocking over a cup that is already flipped: it has to be flipped again before play moves on.
A cup that falls off the table can be put back by any player.
Scoring and winning
The first team to drink and flip every cup wins the round. Drinking or flipping out of turn is usually an automatic loss.
Common variants
- Batavia Downs. Played round a table with at least four players. Two players opposite each other start; when you flip, the turn passes to your neighbour, and you refill and wait. If your neighbour’s turn catches up with you before you have flipped, you lose the round.
- Survivor flip cup. After each round, the losing team votes off a player but must still flip the same number of cups, so one teammate plays twice.
- Alcohol-free. Water, soda or empty cups. Flipping an empty cup from the table edge is the whole skill; the drink only adds time.
Tips for first games
- Tap lightly. A cup that turns once is far easier to control than one that spins in the air.
- Take a second before each flip. Rushing is what makes teams lose.
- Keep the amount in each cup tiny, especially if you plan several rounds, and drink water between them.
Frequently asked questions
How many people do you need for flip cup? Two equal teams; six to twelve players in total is the usual range.
How much do you put in each cup? Agree it before you start and keep it small. Every player drinks the same amount, so a sip is enough to make the race fair.
Can you use two hands to flip? No. Only one hand may touch the cup, and blowing on it is not allowed.
Is there a flip cup without drinking? Yes. Play with water, soft drinks or empty cups; the relay and the flipping stay exactly the same.
