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For other uses, see Centurion: Defender of Rome.
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Centurion, also known as Century Club, Century Challenge, One-Hunzy-Hunzy, Chicken of the North, Hundred's Club, Power Hour and Century Clock in North America, is a drinking game. Although there are variations in the rules, a basic premise remains; drink one hundred shots of beer or cider in as many minutes.[1] 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.
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Variations
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 soccer 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 only one victor remains in the game.
Additional rules can be put in place to make the game more difficult, and forcing players to have extra shots. These can include a Thumb-master, who, at any point can place his or her thumb on the table or wall, and the last player to reciprocate must incur an extra shot, or a Toilet-master, whereby no player is allowed to go to the toilet unless the master has gone, and must catch up on any missed shots when they return. This can result in players taking many shots at once in a situation with only one toilet where a queue forms.
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 vodka.
Another variation includes a rule about a zero tolerance on bodily fluids being expelled. Players may not, at any point after the first shot has been consumed, go to the washroom or vomit, and - although these rules aren't intended seriously - bleed, cry or sweat.
The Canadian variation is an extension of the original game. Instead of the 100 shots in 100 minutes, the players drink 1 shot per minute for the entirety of a 24(case of 24x341mL bottles of beer), sometimes allowing each player a single 1 minute break at any point during the game to go to the bathroom. In southern Bangladesh, participants of the game are not allowed to leave to use the toilet as a sign of respect and dedication to the other players in the game.
Also common in Canadian variations is a shot glass that equals approximately 1.5 ounces, or around 42-43 mL per shot. One hundred of these shots requires the participant to consume closer to 12-13 beers. The increased shot size is added for a greater challenge over the traditional game. Promoters of this variation refer to it specifically as "Agro's Revenge", for reasons relating to an ancient Celtic warrior named Agro, who lived to be one hundred, and consumed copious quantities of beer.
Another Australian variation of the game is known as a "Goonturion" and involves the replacement of beer with cheap box wine. Due to the higher alcohol volume of the wine, intoxication comes at a quicker rate which creates more of a challenge to the players.
In the Pacific Northwestern United States, a variation of the game requires competitors to consume fifty (50) beers in fifty (50) hours. The challenge becomes apparent when players face the need to sleep. Rules generally require that players drink a number of beers equivalent to the number of hours slept, either before going to bed, or upon awakening.
In the Danish version, the stronger 9% "Special Brew" is typically used, interspersed with the local equivalent of Pernod, leading to an even greater state of intoxication. Also it is traditional that after every 6-pack of the drink consumed, all players must stand and sing their own national anthem. Errors will often lead to forfeits.
In France, wine takes the place of the main beverage consumed. Wine can be from either the red or white variety but after every five shots the participant must drink a shot of the opposite grape variety. This is more common in the more northern regions of France due to the more relaxed drinking laws.
"Spartan" is a more extreme variation, in which participants must drink 300 shots. This version has been invented since the popularity of the film 300.[2]
In some parts of Scotland especially the Glasgow area it is quite common to see Buckfast being used instead of beer.
Often in the Netherlands competitions are held. The Dutch variation of the game, "100 minutenspel", states that after vomiting one can continue however this does not count for the rankings. To be sure to keep track on the number of minutes played often a website is used to keep track of the number of shots taken.[3]
Another variation is called a megaturion (mega centurion), which requires players to use 55ml shot glasses to ensure at least 50 ml of beer is consumed per shot. This means players consume 5 litres of beer in 100 minutes, which is equivalent to two centurions in the same time as one.
Notable Centurions
On July 10, 2009, 80 people gathered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, in order to compete in the largest Centurion ever recorded. Successful completion of the game was defined as i) drinking one complete ounce (23ml) shot of Suntory Malts beer per minute for 100 minutes, ii) not leaving your chair iii) not urinating or vomiting (including while seated) until the game was complete. Of the 80 contestants, only eighteen successfully finished.[4][5]
References
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See also
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