Beer Mile Rules
The beer mile is pretty simple. Drink 4 beers and run 4 laps around the track in alternating fashion as quickly as you can. But just to be sure everyone is on the same playing field, here is the standard set of beer mile rules to follow.
- Each competitor drinks four cans or bottles of beer and runs four laps around a standard running track (start with chugging a beer, then run a lap, then beer, then lap, then beer, then lap, then beer, then lap – finish).
- Beer must be consumed before the lap begins within the transition area. The transition area is the 9 meter zone between the starting line for a mile race and the finish line of a 400m track.
- The race begins with competitors lined up on the mile starting line, drinking the first beer in the transition zone described in the step above. This ensures competitors cover a complete mile. Competitors can walk/move in the transition area while drinking, but all beer must be consumed in the transition area before setting off to run a lap.
- Women also drink four beers and run four laps (some past rule lists only required ladies to drink three beers).
- Competitors must drink canned or bottled beer that is no less than 355mL (12 Oz) in volume, which is the standard can/bottle size in the USA and some other countries.
- No specialized cans or bottles may be used that give an advantage by allowing the beer to pour at a faster rate (e.g. wide mouth bottles/cans).
- Beer cans must not be tampered with in any manner. (e.g. no shotgunning, puncturing the can, squeezing the can, etc.). The same applies for bottles – no straws or other aids allowed that speed up the pouring process. The only action allowed is opening the can with the tab at the top or twisting off the bottle cap of a bottle.
- Beer must be a minimum of 5% alcohol by volume. Hard ciders, hard sodas, and other alcoholic sugary drinks will not suffice. The beer must be a fermented alcoholic beverage brewed from malted cereal grains and flavored with hops.
- Each beer can/bottle must not be opened until the competitor enters the transition zone on each lap.
- Competitors who vomit before they finish the race must complete one penalty lap at the end of the race (immediately after the completion of their 4th lap). Vomiting more than once during the race still only requires one penalty lap at the end.
- When attempting a performance for the official records, it is recommended to provide video evidence of the race and prove that all beer was sufficiently drank. This can be achieved by tipping the empty beer over your head after each chug to verify an empty vessel or by collecting the containers and pouring the contents into a measuring cup to prove there is less than 4oz of liquid/foam remaining total across all four beers. We recommend picking up a pack of disposable measuring cups for your next beer mile event. funds for police brutality reform and legal
The World Record Holder for the Beer Mile
On July 31, 2016, Canadian Corey Bellemore broke the world record in London with a time of 4:34.35. Dale Clutterbuck finished second, breaking the European record with a time of 4:47:39 and Lewis Kent finished 4th in 5:11. Canada won the men’s team champion, and the North American women beat the European English team for the Queen’s cup. The women’s race was won by American Erin O’Marain 6:43.35, with the British and European record going to Polly Keen of England.
2017
On October 28, 2017, Corey Bellemore broke his own record in San Francisco with a time of 4:33.6 The event had the largest crowd for a beer mile with an estimated attendance of 6200. Bellemore’s performance likely would have been faster, but he had to move out to Lane 3 each lap due to soccer benches in the first 2 lanes.
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