Bowling Drinking Games: 7 Fun Games to Play With Friends
Looking to add some laughs and competition to your night at the lanes? Here are fun bowling drinking games you and your friends can play at your favorite alley.
Bowling Drinking Games: 7 Fun Games to Play With Friends
Going out for a night of bowling is already fun—but adding a few lighthearted drinking games can make it even more memorable. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, having a weekend hangout, or just want to mix things up, these games combine friendly competition with a twist. Remember: always play responsibly and know your limits.
Here are some of the top bowling drinking games you can try with friends next time you hit the lanes.
1. Beer Frame
This one’s a classic. Whenever everyone in your group bowls a strike or spare except one person, that unlucky bowler owes the table a round of drinks (or takes a sip of their own). It keeps the pressure high and the laughs rolling.
2. Strike Shot
It’s simple: if you bowl a strike, everyone else has to take a drink. If you bowl a gutter ball, you’re the one taking two drinks. This one gets fun quickly when strikes and gutters start flying back to back.
3. Spare Dare
Whenever you pick up a spare, you get to assign a “dare” to another player—like taking a sip, singing a song, or doing a goofy dance before their next throw. Missed spares? Take a drink yourself!
4. Frame Assignments
Before the game starts, assign each frame a rule. For example:
- Frame 1: Everyone takes a sip no matter what.
- Frame 3: Lowest score drinks.
- Frame 7: Strike equals everyone cheers and drinks together.
By the 10th frame, the rules have usually added up to a hilarious finish.
5. Gutter Ball Punishment
Easy to remember: every gutter ball equals one drink. If you somehow throw two gutter balls in the same frame… that’s two drinks. No excuses!
6. Booze Bowling
This is the ultimate bowling drinking game with a full ruleset. Your pin count determines how much you drink—knock down 7 pins and leave 3 standing? Take 3 sips. Roll a strike? You get to give out 10 sips to your friends. It includes special rules like waterfalls for turkeys and rhyme time challenges. Check out the full Booze Bowling rules here.
7. Last Place Drinks
At the end of the game, the person with the lowest score owes the table a round—or has to finish their drink. It’s the ultimate motivation to bowl your best.
Tips for Playing Responsibly
- Pace yourself. Bowling games can go on for an hour or more, so take your time.
- Stay hydrated. Alternate drinks with water.
- Know your limits. These games are meant to be fun, not overwhelming.
Bowling drinking games are a great way to bond with friends and create stories you’ll laugh about later. Next time you head out, try one of these games and see which becomes your group’s favorite.
Related Reading
- Booze Bowling: The Ultimate Drinking Game for the Lanes - A complete guide to the classic drinking game where your pin count determines how much you drink.
- The Perfect Number of Beers for Bowling Night - Find out how many drinks hit the sweet spot for your best game.
- Bowling Night Out Group Size Guide - How many people should you bring for the perfect bowling night?
- Best Bowling Alley Snacks - The best foods to munch on while you bowl.
Want to find the perfect place to play? Explore the best bowling alleys near you on BowlingAlleys.io and plan your next night out!