Mario Kart Drinking Game: Don't Drink & Drive

Master the Mario Kart drinking game with our complete guide! Learn Beerio Kart rules, drunk driver variations, and item challenges for epic game nights.

✍️ April 25, 2025

Mario Kart Drinking Game: Beerio Kart & Drunk Driver Rules

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🏎️ How to Play the Mario Kart Drinking Game
🍻 Mario Kart Drinking Game Rules
🎮 Mario Kart Drinking Game Variations
💥 Item-Specific Drinking Rules
🏆 Pro Tips for Mario Kart Drinking Success
❓ Mario Kart Drinking Game FAQs

Want to add an extra challenge to your Mario Kart battles? The Mario Kart drinking game (often called “Beerio Kart” or “Drunk Driver”) transforms this classic Nintendo racer into the ultimate party experience!

Whether you’re playing on the Nintendo Switch, Wii U, or digging out your old N64, these Mario Kart drinking game rules work with any version of Mario Kart. Combine competitive racing with strategic drinking for a night that’ll have everyone laughing, trash-talking, and maybe even sabotaging each other’s race positions.

Ready to put your drinking and driving skills to the test in this legendary drinking game? Let’s hit the Rainbow Road!

👉 Looking for board game fun instead? Check out our Mario Party drinking game rules!

How to Play the Mario Kart Drinking Game

Getting started with the Mario Kart drinking game is super simple—here’s everything you need:

What You’ll Need

Nintendo console with Mario Kart
One controller per player
Beer or preferred alcoholic beverage for each player
Friends with a competitive streak

Classic “Beerio Kart” Setup

This is the most popular version of the Mario Kart drinking game, and it’s ridiculously simple:

Each player starts with a full drink (usually a beer)
You must finish your entire drink before completing the race
You CANNOT drink while your kart is moving (no drinking and driving)
First player to cross the finish line with an empty drink wins

The strategy comes from deciding when to stop and drink. Do you chug at the beginning and play catch-up? Take small breaks throughout? Or save it all for a desperate final stretch?

Choosing Your Tracks

Beginners: Start with simpler tracks like Moo Moo Meadows or Mario Circuit
Veterans: Rainbow Road, Bowser’s Castle, or other challenging courses
Mix it up: Create a Grand Prix with varied difficulties

Tip: Choose your character wisely! Heavy characters like Bowser might have better top speeds, but after a few drinks, you might need the handling of a lighter character like Toad.

Mario Kart Drinking Game Rules

The beauty of the Mario Kart drinking game is its flexibility. Here are the core rule sets that can be used individually or combined:

🏎️ Beerio Kart Rules (“Don’t Drink and Drive”)

Must finish your drink before finishing the race
Cannot drink while your kart is in motion
Must put down controller completely while drinking
First to finish both race and drink wins

🏎️ Drunk Driver Rules (The “DUI” Version)

The infamous “Drunk Driver” Mario Kart drinking game reverses the classic rules:

Players can ONLY drink while actively driving
Must continue moving forward while drinking
Drinking while stopped or fallen off is prohibited
First to finish both race and drink wins

🏎️ Race Position Rules

Place 4th or worse = take 4 sips
Place 3rd = take 3 sips
Place 2nd = take 2 sips
Place 1st = assign 4 sips to anyone

🏎️ Race Event Rules

Fall off the track = 1 sip
Get hit by an item = 1 sip
Hit by blue shell = finish half your drink
Get lapped = finish your entire drink
Drive backward for more than 3 seconds = 2 sips

🏎️ Mario Kart 8 Anti-Gravity Rules

When racing on anti-gravity sections = must hold controller upside down
Fall off during anti-gravity section = 3 sips

🏎️ Battle Mode Rules

Lose a balloon = take 1 sip
Lose all balloons = finish your drink
Pop someone’s balloon = assign a sip
Last player standing = assign 5 sips

🏎️ Shotgun Start

For a quicker, more intense Mario Kart drinking game:

Everyone must shotgun a beer before race begins
Race starts immediately after everyone finishes
No additional drinking during race (focus on driving!)

Mario Kart Drinking Game Variations

Beyond the classic rules, these creative variations can keep your Mario Kart drinking nights fresh and exciting:

🎮 The Drunk Driver Special

An enhanced version of the Drunk Driver Mario Kart drinking game:

Players must drink continuously while driving through designated “drinking zones”
Rainbow Road’s star paths are mandatory drinking sections
Getting hit while drinking means taking an extra sip

🎮 Mario Kart Drinking Game Meme Challenge

Based on popular Mario Kart drinking game memes:

Players must shout the meme phrase “I’m-a gonna win!” when taking the lead
Whenever someone falls off Rainbow Road, everyone shouts “So long, gay Bowser!” and drinks
Blue shell victims must recreate the “Luigi death stare” meme while drinking

🎮 Shot Race

Each player places a shot at the finish line. You must finish the race, take your shot, and then cross the finish line again to win. The shot becomes your “pit stop.”

🎮 Podium Punishment

Focus on racing skills first, drinking second:

1st place: Safe, no drinks
2nd place: Take 2 sips
3rd place: Take 3 sips
4th place: Finish half your drink
Last place: Finish your entire drink

🎮 Reverse Drinking

The better you do, the more you drink:

Hit someone with an item = take 1 sip
Finish in 1st place = finish your drink
Get a star or bullet = take 2 sips

🎮 Rainbow Road Challenge

A special rule just for Rainbow Road:

Everyone starts with a full drink
Must finish the entire drink during the race (can drink while driving)
Fall off the track = take an additional sip

Item-Specific Drinking Rules

Add these item-based rules to any Mario Kart drinking game variation for extra chaos:

💥 Shell Rules

Hit by Red Shell = 1 sip
Hit by Green Shell = 2 sips (it takes skill to hit with these!)
Hit by Blue Shell = 3 sips
Hit by Spiny Shell = finish half your drink

💥 Power-Up Rules

Get Mushroom = assign 1 sip
Get Triple Mushrooms = assign 3 sips
Get Star = assign 2 sips to anyone
Get Bullet Bill = assign 3 sips
Get Lightning = everyone else drinks 1 sip

💥 Banana Rules

Slip on banana = 2 sips (how did you not see that?)
Place banana that someone hits = assign 2 sips
Hit 3+ players with one banana = finish your drink (legendary move)

💥 Special Items

Fire Flower = assign 1 sip per fireball that hits someone
Boomerang = assign 1 sip per hit
Super Horn = anyone caught in the blast takes 2 sips
Crazy Eight = choose any 8 people to take 1 sip each

Pro Tips for Mario Kart Drinking Success

Want to maintain your racing edge while playing these Mario Kart drinking games? Here’s some strategic advice:

Pick Smart Stopping Points

In Beerio Kart, identify strategic places to stop and drink—like after getting hit by an item or at the beginning of a straightaway.

Master the Drunk Driver Challenge

For the Drunk Driver version of the Mario Kart drinking game, practice one-handed controller techniques to maintain control while drinking.

Choose Your Drinks Wisely

Lighter beers or mixed drinks might be easier to finish quickly than heavy stouts or high-ABV options.

Pace Yourself

The game gets more fun when everyone is on equal footing—don’t try to outdrink your friends early on.

Tournament Structure

For larger groups, set up a tournament with winners advancing and losers taking drinks. This keeps everyone engaged even when not racing.

Strategic Item Usage

Save defensive items like shells and bananas to force opponents into stopping, giving you time to drink or race ahead.

Mario Kart Drinking Game FAQs

What’s the difference between Beerio Kart and the Drunk Driver Mario Kart drinking game?

Beerio Kart requires you to stop driving to drink (don’t drink and drive), while the Drunk Driver version requires you to drink while actively racing (only drink while driving).

Which Mario Kart version works best for drinking games?

Any version works, but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Switch is ideal due to its accessibility and features. Mario Kart 64 has nostalgia value, while Wii and GameCube versions are also popular choices.

How many players can join a Mario Kart drinking game?

While Mario Kart supports 2-4 players in split-screen mode, you can include more players by running tournaments or switching off between races. Some recent versions support up to 8 players with multiple consoles.

Where did the Mario Kart drinking game meme originate?

The Mario Kart drinking game achieved meme status around 2014-2015 when social media posts about Beerio Kart and Drunk Driver rules went viral. The juxtaposition of Nintendo’s family-friendly racing game with adult drinking games created perfect meme material.

What drinks work best for Mario Kart drinking games?

Beer is traditional, but any beverage works. For a truly Nintendo-themed party, try blue curaçao drinks (Blue Shell), red fruit punch (Red Shell), or green apple-flavored beverages (Green Shell).

Can you play these drinking games with Mario Party too?

Absolutely! Many Mario Party drinking games work similarly, with rules for mini-games, stars, and board events.

How do you prevent the drinking game from getting too intense?

Set a race limit (usually 4-8 tracks) or time limit (1-2 hours) before starting. Switch to water occasionally, and never pressure anyone to drink more than they’re comfortable with.

What are some non-alcoholic alternatives?

Use soft drinks, water, or juice instead. The game remains fun as the challenge comes from the strategic stops and starts, not necessarily the alcohol.

Ready to supercharge your next game night? Whether you choose Beerio Kart, the Drunk Driver challenge, or create your own custom ruleset, the Mario Kart drinking game guarantees hilarious memories. Just remember: in real life, please never drink and drive—save it for the virtual tracks!