Dreading the Trump-Biden Presidential Debate? This Drinking Game Should Lighten the Mood

While it's undeniably vital to stay informed ahead of the 2024 presidential election, playing a drinking game to lighten the mood and pass the time during the upcoming debates is somewhat necessary for — well — the sake of our well-being. Once again, Donald Trump and Joe Biden are on the ballot this year, and in the first of what is likely to be a good number of presidential debates, the two are going head to head to discuss the various issues voters are concerned about this voting season.

For those tuning into the Biden-Trump debate who want a way to quell the side of existential dread that comes with a presidential debate, here's a drinking game to play with your friends, regardless of whose team you're on this year.

There are, of course, different ways to approach a drinking game, but we recommend selecting your alcoholic beverage and sticking to it throughout the whole debate to reduce the severity of a hangover the next morning (and also to not mix alcohol). Always remember to drink responsibly and only if you're over the age of 21.

Take one drink every time one of the following topics or phrases is mentioned:

• Shrinkflation
• Climate change
• China
• Russia
• The 2020 election
• Student debt
• Border
• Drug prices
• Crime

Take two drinks every time:

• Trump says “crooked”
• Biden says “c’mon man”
• Trump is referred to as a "convicted felon"
• Anytime one of the candidates tries interrupting the other with the muted microphone
• Biden is referred to as "sleepy"

Finish your drink if:

• Trump says "Make America great again."
• Someone says the phrase "The soul of the nation."
• January 6th is mentioned
• Trump's 34 guilty verdicts are mentioned
• Hunter Biden is brought up by either candidate
• Either candidate says the other should be jailed

Drink water when:

• The camera pans to the moderators
• A moderator doesn't get to finish their question before being interrupted by the candidates
• There's a commercial break

There will be two commercial breaks throughout the course of the 90-minute debate, ensuring that drinking game participants should have a couple of opportunities to hydrate in between what is likely to devolve into a very drunken debate viewing.

And for those who really want to reduce their hangover the next day, finish your water when:

• You see an ad for either candidate during a commercial break.

As noted by X user Jason Selvig, there is a much simpler drinking game to play that's open to personal interpretation: drink every time Trump "makes you angry" and every time Biden "makes you a little nervous." If either candid makes you very nervous or very angry, take two drinks.

Considering this model is still likely to make you incredibly hungover the next day, the drinking water rules still stand.

Tune into the first 2024 presidential debate will air at 9 p.m. EDT on CNN. Viewers can either watch it live with cable, through Max, or on CNN.com for those without the required subscriptions.