Centurion (game)

Centurion, also known as Kodak 100 challenge Century Club and Century Clock in North America, is a drinking game, popular within the United Kingdom student population. Although there are variations in the rules, a basic premise remains; drink one hundred shots of beer or cider in as many minutes. This may sound simple. However, due to the sustained rate of the alcohol consumption without rest, the game often leaves even the most hardened drinker in a state of complete intoxication. Depending on the size of the shot glass used, either 2.5 or 3 litres of low volume drink such as cider or beer is required.

Variations

Some rules that are not universally applied state that when a player vomits, which is likely, they must either leave the game, or take one of two options: 1. drink what they vomited 2. lay on the back, bend their knees, and urinate into their own mouth. If one of these two actions are taken then the player may carry on drinking.

Other variations say that if a player vomits within the minute between shots, and carry on within time then they can continue. Also if a player misses a shot they can carry on if they drink that shot and an extra forfeit shot within the minute before the next shot is due.

Additionally, players can choose to time their shots with a football match, where ninety minutes of playing time is equated with ninety shots - with a further ten requiring to be drunk during half time. This variation carries the added advantage of an on screen timer, which can be seen by a wider audience.

Furthermore, if there are multiple players still remaining after one hundred minutes, a 'go for gold' challenge may be introduced. Here, all parties remaining agree to continue drinking shots past the one hundred minutes, until all but one victor remains in the game.

Regional variations can be found across the globe. For instance, In Russia it is not uncommon to set every 'nth' shot with a spirit, typically in this case Vodka.

Tips for success

1. Choosing very weak beer. This increases players' ability to continue drinking.
2. Eating a full meal beforehand. This slows the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream.

The game's popularity can be attributed to a perception of its money saving qualities; i.e., as a precursor to an evenings entertainment outside of the house, providing a cheap method by which players can become drunk enough not to need to purchase drinks within the more expensive nightclubs. Also pouring the drink into a jug before starting not only helps with speed of distributing the shots but also makes the beer slightly flat which helps with the inevitable bloating.

External links

• Flash Centurion Timer with Alerts
• Online Centurion Challenge Timer
• Another simple Centurion Timer
• Free Downloadable Centurion Timer With Forfeits