Some Manchester students are showing a thirst NOT to learn after catching on to a new drinking trend that has spread across the country.
The ‘lecture drinking game’ went viral across social media three days ago after being published in Newcastle University’s Tab newspaper – amassing more than 10,000 likes and gaining more than 45,000 shares on Facebook and Twitter.
The aim of the game is to end up inebriated after sneaking an alcoholic beverage into a lecture and consuming specific amounts in accordance to the actions of the lecturer or audience.
And now the boozy craze has reached Manchester, as two students are plotting to play the game in their early-morning lectures.
Olivia, or ‘Liv’ as she is named on Twitter, is a 19-year-old Sociology student at University of Manchester and is planning on embarking on the game in her 9am lecture with her ‘drinking buddy’ Rebecca Egan.
Olivia tweeted: “I love @RebeccaEganTT because who else would meticulously plan how to play a drinking game in our 9am lecture [with] me?”
Rebecca, 18, responded: “I love you too @nighttimemytime who else would do this with me ! You are my drinking buddy! It will be so funny haha!!!”
The pair then joked that they would deliberately try to answer questions in class so that they had to drink more.
Some of the rules involve drinking a two-finger measure if the lecturer tells a rubbish joke, moves a slideshow forward before students have taken notes or reads a slide word-for-word.
In respect to the audience, a two-finger measure is also required if a student coughs, arrives late or if a phone notification goes off amongst others.
“We will be wanting to answer questions so we can drink more [laughing face],” Rebecca said.
Olivia replied: “You better not be late, pretty sure you have to down your drink if that happens [laughing face and drink emoticons].”
MM spoke to other students across Manchester to get their thoughts on the craze.
Mike Hollington, a 19-year-old Salford Unviersty student, believed the game could possibly add some fun to lectures and saw its appeal.
“Honestly, I think it’s a great idea,” he said.
“I don’t know if I would play it myself but I can see a lot of students taking on this game and making their lectures a lot more fun.”
The lecture drinking game dates back to 2004, when Australian students made a drinking game out of their lecturers and other students reactions during a lecture.
Australian National University (ANU) also published the game in their monthly university magazine published by their students.
Even though the game has captured the imagination of some students, others have voiced their concerns about the immature and irresponsible nature of alcohol consumption during lectures.
James Cooke, a 24-year-old business student living in Manchester, explained that he preferred to focus on his degree than participating in games such as this.
“There are lots of students who care about their degree and want to graduate with a decent grade. This game certainly isn’t for people like me,” he said.
“Playing drinking games during lectures seems like something freshers would do.
“I have done my share of partying when I was a fresher but now I am a lot more mature and responsible.
“Third year students like myself know how important lectures are and wouldn’t waste any of them messing about drinking.”
Christina Bennett, a 21-year-old student living in Manchester, also held the same viewpoint.
“I think it’s a silly idea. I don’t see the point in drinking during lectures,” she said.
“Why go to a lecture if you aren’t going to try and learn anything? If I was going to pre-drink I would just skip the lecture and do it at my house or my mates house.
“Don’t they have better things to create drinking games about other than lectures? What’s wrong with the good old ‘ring of fire’?”
Olivia and Rebecca have since contacted MM to claim the tweets were a joke and they didn’t intend to play the drinking game for real.
You can learn the full rules of the lecture drinking game by clicking here.
Image courtesy of John Keane wvia FlickR, with thanks.
