Drinking Games for Family Gatherings

Family night doesn't have to mean Monopoly. Family drinking games bring generations together — with simple rules, tons of laughter, and zero boredom. Whether it's a Sunday evening game night, Christmas, or a family BBQ: here you'll find games that make grandma and grandkids laugh at the same time. Of course, everything works with juice, lemonade, or non-alcoholic beer too.

Why family drinking games are the ultimate icebreakers

Every family has that moment: everyone's sitting together, but nobody knows what to do. The younger ones are on their phones, the older ones are watching TV. A good game solves that problem in two minutes.

Family drinking games work because they're simple. No complicated rules, no strategy sessions. Draw a card, do the challenge, laugh. The Drunken Tower, for example — everyone's on the edge of their seat, whether they're 18 or 60. And with Drawing Without Dignity, you find out who in the family really is the worst at drawing.

Important: "drinking game" doesn't automatically mean alcohol. The adults have their beer, the younger ones have cola. The game mechanics stay the same, and so does the fun. That's exactly why these games work for the whole family.

Which games for which family setup?

Mixed age groups (16–70): Keep it clean and simple. Buzzed or 21 Drink Fun have harmless challenges that everyone can join in on. Dice games like Shut the Box work perfectly across all ages.

Adults only (but still family): When grandma joins in after her third glass of wine, Do or Drink is fair game. Just take out the 18+ cards — and you've got a family-friendly party game.

Big family gatherings (10+): With group party games or no-equipment drinking games like Never Have I Ever (family-friendly version), everyone can join in. No upper limit, no waiting time.

How to turn family night into a highlight

Start simple. The first game night with the family isn't the moment for complicated rulebooks. A card game or the Drunken Tower as a starter — once everyone's warmed up, you can level up.

Set the alcohol rule beforehand. Some family members drink, some don't. Agree upfront that everyone picks their own drink — then there's zero discussion and everyone has fun.

No winners, no losers. Family drinking games aren't about winning. They're about laughing together. The moment the tower falls, the embarrassing answer to a question, the face after a sour shot — those are the moments that stick.

One last tip: two games is enough for an entire evening. Free shipping on orders over €50 makes it easy to put together a small set.