The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A MEXICAN DRINKING GAME

TO GET THE HIGHEST ROLL OF THE DICE OVER THE OTHER PLAYERS,
THE DICE ARE READ WITH THE HIGHEST VALUE FIRST AND THE LESSER
VALUE SECOND. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WERE TO ROLL A 4 AND A 5
THE VALUE IS 54. THE VALUES OF THE DICE INCREASE NUMERICALLY
AS DOES THE NUMBER SYSTEM. DOUBLES ARE AN EXCEPTION. DOUBLES
ARE HIGHER IN VALUE THAN ANY SPLIT ROLL AND THEY ALSO INCREASE
IN VALUE NUMERICALLY. (DOUBLE TWOS ARE GREATER THAN DOUBLE
ONES) THE HIGHEST ROLL POSSIBLE IS 21. THIS IS CALLED MEXICAN;
HENCE THE NAME OF THE GAME. THE GAME PROCEEDS BY SOMEONE
STARTING THE ROLL AND THEN LOOKING AT IT SO THAT HE IS THE ONE
WHO SEES IT. THE ROLLER THEN ANNOUNCES THE VALUE OF HIS ROLL
AND PASSES THE DICE TO THE NEXT PLAYER. THE NEXT PLAYER
BEATS THE VALUE ANNOUNCED OR HE IS FORCED TO DRINK A GLASS
OF BEER. NOW THE PERSON RECEIVING THE DICE HAS TWO OPTIONS.
HE MAY EITHER TRY TO BEAT THE ROLL OR HE MAY CHALLENGE THE
PREVIOUS ROLLER TO SEE IF HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH.
IF THE ROLLER LOOKS AT THE DICE AND THE PREVIOUS ROLLER
WAS LYING THEN THE PREVIOUS ROLLER MUST DRINK. IF THE
PREVIOUS ROLLER WAS NOT LYING THEN THE CHALLENGER HAS
TO DRINK. IF THE ROLLER CHOOSES TO ROLL THE DICE TWO
THINGS MAY HAPPEN. ONE, THE ROLLER BEATS THE PREVIOUS
ROLL HE ANNOUNCES HIS ROLL AND PASSES THE DICE. TWO,
THE ROLLER DOES NOT BEAT THE PREVIOUS ROLL SO HE MAY
EITHER CHOOSE TO DRINK RIGHT THERE OR HE MAY PASS THE DICE
AND ANNOUNCE A FALSE SCORE AND SEE IF HE GETS CAUGHT.
WHEN ONE ROLLS 21 HE AUTOMATICALLY ANNOUNCES THAT HE HAS
MEXICAN, DISPLAYS THE DICE, AND EVERYONE DRINKS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MARQUETTE

Date learned: 00001983CA