Read this first: the risks
Power hour is the one game on this site we do not recommend playing with alcohol in its classic form. The traditional rule is a shot glass of beer every minute for an hour. That is about 90 ounces of beer, or roughly seven and a half cans, in 60 minutes. Its longer cousin, the Century Club or Centurion (100 shots in 100 minutes), is about 150 ounces.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as about five or more drinks for men, or four or more for women, in roughly two hours. A classic power hour goes well past that in half the time. Drinking that fast can lead to alcohol overdose (alcohol poisoning), which can cause confusion, vomiting, seizures, trouble breathing, difficulty staying conscious and death. If anyone shows those signs, call 911 straight away; do not let them “sleep it off”.
Power hour is often associated with 21st birthdays in the United States. That is exactly the occasion where a first-time drinker is most at risk, so please play the alcohol-free version.
What you need
A playlist of 60 song clips that each play for one minute (or a phone timer that beeps every minute), a shot glass or small cup per player, and plenty to drink. Two or more players; it is best in a group of six or more.
Power hour is an adult party game. Play it only with people of legal drinking age (21 in the United States), never pressure anyone to drink or to keep going, have water available all the time, and never drive afterwards. Our recommendation: fill the shot glasses with non-alcoholic drinks: soda, juice, sparkling water or alcohol-free beer. The game is the music and the countdown, and it keeps all its fun.
Setup
Make the playlist. Choosing 60 songs is half the fun: a decade theme, one song per person in turn, or guilty pleasures. Each clip lasts exactly one minute so the change of song is the signal. Ready-made one-minute playlists also exist.
Everyone sits with a full shot glass and the bottle or jug within reach.
How to play
- Start the playlist.
- Each time the song changes, everyone drinks their shot glass and refills it.
- A player who misses a song change before the next one starts is out, unless you play with lives.
- Keep going for all 60 songs.
Scoring and winning
Anyone who takes a drink at every one of the 60 changes completes the power hour. Some groups play “last one standing” instead. With soft drinks, finishing is easy, so add the song quiz below to make it a contest.
Common variants
- Alcohol-free (recommended). Soda, juice or alcohol-free beer in every glass.
- Song quiz (our suggestion). Score a point for naming the artist and title before the drink at each change. This turns the hour into a music quiz that works with any drink.
- Water rule. One published variant: after every ten drinks, players take water for the next five to ten rounds. If anyone insists on alcohol, this is the minimum, and the sips should be tiny.
- Lives. Each player can skip a set number of song changes and stay in.
- Century Club or Centurion. 100 shots in 100 minutes. Do not play this with alcohol.
Tips for first games
- Decide on the drinks before the music starts, and make non-alcoholic the default.
- Eat first, and keep a jug of water on the table.
- Nobody should feel they have to finish. Dropping out is not losing.
Frequently asked questions
How much do you drink in a power hour? In the classic version, 60 shots of beer, about 90 ounces or seven and a half cans. That is far beyond the binge drinking threshold, which is why we recommend non-alcoholic drinks.
Is power hour dangerous? With alcohol, yes. Drinking at that rate can raise blood alcohol to dangerous levels and cause alcohol poisoning. Play it with soft drinks or alcohol-free beer.
What is the Century Club or Centurion? A longer version with 100 shots over 100 minutes. It carries even greater risks and should never be played with alcohol.
Do you need a special playlist? No. Any 60 songs cut to one minute each work, or a timer that beeps every minute.
