State of the union drinking game 2022

President Joe Biden is set to give his first State of the Union address to Congress, with the evening speech set to emphasise economic recovery, the Build Back Better bill, and the United States’ response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

We can’t be entirely sure what President Biden’s speech will contain, but if we look at all the bizarre, unscripted, and meme-able moments from the past, there’s sure to be a few cringeworthy camera cuts that will make you want to take a shot of vodka.

Fortunately, these State of the Union drinking games are here to help you stay hydrated while staying informed.

Follow the State of the Union live

The rules for the State of the Union drinking game are simple. One, acquire some alcohol. The game can be played with any wine, beer, or liquor of your choosing, but we recommend something domestic to get you feeling really patriotic.

Different hot-button topics will call for a different number of drinks. Drinkinggame.us suggests one drink every time words like coronavirus or taxes are mentioned. Our Community Now has a State of the Union drinking game that asks players to take one sip every time they feel the applause has gone on way too long.

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The stakes of the State of the Union drinking game are raised when President Biden utters one of his favourite superlatives during the speech. The longer a president is in office, the more the American public begins to learn their catchphrases, mannerisms, and usual anecdotes, and for President Biden, this is no exception. One Twitter user suggested taking two or three shots every time the president says “Here’s the deal” or “C’mon man!”

The State of the Union kicks off at 9 pm on Tuesday 1 March. Please drink responsibly.

Drink once:

President Biden discusses US response to the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine

The Build Back Better bill is mentioned

Covid-19 or coronavirus is mentioned

The post-pandemic economy is discussed

Drink twice:

Inflation

Sanctions

Vladimir Putin

Donald Trump

A close-up of a disapproving Republican senator or representative

Drink three times:

Someone walks out in protest

The GOP sits while Democrats give Biden a standing ovation

Biden ends the speech with “God Bless America”

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Biden quotes an old Irish saying from his youth

Someone shouts out “You lie!” à la Rep Joe Wilson in 2009

Biden set to deliver State of Union address as war rages in ...

Tuesday night saw Joe Biden's hotly anticipated State of the Union address - where he set out the current condition of the nation, his achievements, his priorities, and spoke about troubling events abroad.

But for those who aren't political obsessives, it was an event that needed some livening up to make it through.

Enter: drinking games.

The rules for all State of of the Union drinking games are simple - you get your hands on some alcohol, pledge to drink some whenever a specific phrase is uttered, and then - and this is optional - try to see how much you remembered from the president's address afterwards.

You could have chosen wine, beer, liquor - whatever really.

But we fear for those who chose the hard stuff - because chugging whiskey every time Biden uttered one of his go-to phrases would have gotten messy, fast.

One viewer wrote afterwards: "If you’re playing the SOTU drinking game, you’re flat-out drunk by now. I hope you washed your toilet seats and bowls. I hope you have paramedics on speed dial."

Another offered their "thoughts and prayers" to anyone playing along at home, while another said: "Started a drinking game...every time POTUS says 'folks' I take a shot...needless to say I am now at level covfefe."

There were various versions of the drinking game online.

• Drinkinggame.us suggested one drink every time words like coronavirus or taxes are mentioned.
• Our Community Now urged people to take one sip every time they feel the applause has gone on way too long.

But perhaps our favorite was Ramp Capital's offering:

1 drink every time Joe Biden says:

“Build Back Better”

“Jobs”

“Russia/Putin”

or coughs

2 drinks every time he says:

“Here’s the deal”

“Covid”

“Inflation”

3 drinks whenever he says:

“Trump”

“Cmon man!”

“January 6th”

And finally you had to finish your drink if he does that weird condescending whisper of his.

Heavy.com took a different approach, with some options for drinking games focused on the audience at the Capitol. The rules included:

• Take a sip if Bernie doesn’t clap or stand up at any point, or if he looks bored.
• Take a sip if Bernie does something that turns into a meme.
• Take a sip if Pelosi does something that turns into a meme.
• Take a sip if Harris does something that turns into a meme.
• Take a sip if Pelosi or Harris reads something while Biden talks or seems to not be paying attention.
• Take a sip if a Republican refuses to stand up or clap while everyone else is.
• Take a shot if someone heckles Biden or yells at him during his speech.
• Take a sip if the camera pans to your Congressional representative.
• Take a sip if the camera pans to someone and you have no idea who they are.

Whichever game you chose - we suspect you'll be in no fit state to go to work on Wednesday.

Good luck!