The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

QUARTERS

ITEMS NEEDED FOR THIS GAME ARE A NUMBER OF AMERICAN OR
CANADIAN QUARTERS, A GLASS 2" TALL (USUALLY A SHOT GLASS) AND
A HARD SMOOTH SURFACE TO BOUNCE THE QUARTERS ON. EVERY PLAYER
HAS A DRINK (BEER). THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO BOUNCE THE
QUARTER ON THE FLAT SURFACE SO THAT IT GOES INTO THE GLASS
AFTER THE FIRST BOUNCE. THE QUARTER IS USUALLY HELD BETWEEN
THE THUMB AND FOREFINGER AND HITS THE TABLE AT AN ANGLE SO
IT BOUNCES ON THE THIN EDGE. IF YOU MISS YOU HAVE TO TAKE A
DRINK AND THE NEXT PLAYER GOES. IF YOU GET IT IN YOU TRY
AGAIN. IF YOU GET THREE IN A ROW YOU CAN MAKE UP A RULE.
(EX.- YOU HAVE TO SWEAR AT THE END OF EVERY SENTENCE; IF YOU
GET UP TO DO SOMETHING IN THE ROOM YOU MUST WALK ON YOUR
KNEES).
VARIATIONS ON THE GAME VARY WIDELY, EVEN FROM ROOM TO ROOM
ON THE SAME DORM FLOOR. OTHERS ARE:
IF YOU CAN BOUNCE A QUARTER IN SOMEONE ELSE'S DRINK
ANYTIME DURING PLAY THEY HAVE TO DRINK THE WHOLE GLASS IN
ONE GO AND RETURN THE QUARTER TO YOU.
INSTEAD OF A SHOT GLASS A PHONE RECEIVER WAS USED. THE EAR
AND MOUTH PIECES HAD BEEN UNSCREWED AND TAKEN OFF TO LEAVE
HOLES FOR THE QUARTERS TO BE BOUNCED INTO. THEN THE PHONE
WAS SET SPINNING AND THE PLAYERS TOOK TURNS TRYING TO GET
THE QUARTERS IN.

Submitter comment: THIS IS ANOTHER OF THE DRINKING GAMES THAT ARE USED TO GET
DRUNK QUICKLY.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Date learned: 10-00-1988