The Ultimate Guide to Stag Do Games, Pranks & Forfeits

Organising a stag do can be overwhelming. You have the destination and the accommodation sorted, but what about the gaps in between? You have a group of disparate guys, some of whom have never met, sitting around a table in a pub. How do you break the ice?

The answer is simple: Games and Pranks.

A stag weekend isn't complete without a bit of friendly competition and the inevitable embarrassment of the groom. Whether you need a game to play in the airport lounge, on the beach, or in the pub, we have compiled the definitive list.

Disclaimer: We encourage everyone to drink responsibly. All games below can be played with soft drinks and be just as much fun!

Part 1: The Best Stag Do Games

Nothing bonds a group of strangers faster than a common goal (or a common enemy). Here are the best games to play, complete with the rules.

The "Airport & Travel" Games

Stuck in the terminal waiting for your flight to Prague or Budapest? Don't just sit there.

1. Airport Scavenger Hunt

Make a list of 5 random items (e.g., a foreign coin, a perfume sample, a free newspaper). The first person to return to the Best Man with all 5 items wins a pint on the plane.

2. The Visa Prank

(Requires preparation). Print out fake "Visa" documents for everyone except the Stag. As you approach the gate, have everyone loudly check they have their "Entry Permits." Watch the Stag panic as he realizes he doesn't have one.

The "Beach" Games

If you are heading to Bournemouth, Newquay, or Benidorm, you will likely hit the sand.

3. Ballcock Massacre

You need: A tennis ball.

The Rules: The Stag starts with the ball. The goal is simple: Get the ball off him by any means necessary. Once you have it, you must keep it. You can run into the sea or bury it in the sand. Whoever holds the ball when the timer stops is the winner.

4. Beach Hangman

The Rules: Classic Hangman drawn in the sand. Use embarrassing phrases related to the Groom. If the group fails to guess the word before the stickman is drawn, everyone does a forfeit (e.g., runs into the sea).

The "All Weekend" Games

These games run in the background throughout the entire trip. They keep everyone on their toes!

5. Mr President

The Rules: Nominate the Groom as "The President." At any random moment, the Best Man (or a designated bodyguard) puts his hand to his ear as if listening to an earpiece. The moment he does this, the entire group must scream "GET DOWN MR PRESIDENT!" and dive to tackle the Groom to the ground/sofa/bed to save him from an "unspecified attack."

6. The Unnamed Man

The Rules: Simple but infuriating. You cannot call anyone in the group by their name. No first names, no surnames, no nicknames. You must come up with creative ways to get their attention ("Oi, you in the blue shirt!"). Slip up, and you face a forfeit.

7. Weak Hand Drinking

The Rules: Everyone must hold their drink in their "weak" hand (left hand for right-handers, and vice versa) for the entire evening.

The Twist: Nominate a "Chairman" and give him a designated object (like a golf ball). If the Chairman spots anyone drinking with their strong hand, he drops the ball into their drink. The offender must down the drink to retrieve the ball. The offender then becomes the new Chairman.

8. God Save the Queen (The Penny Game)

The Rules: The "Penny" starts with the Groom. He can drop it into anyone's drink at any time. The moment you realize there is a penny in your pint, you must finish the drink immediately to "Save the Queen" from drowning. You then keep the penny and can target someone else later.

The Pub Classics

Perfect for when you are gathered around a table or pool table.

9. Killer Pool

The Setup: You need a pool table, £1 coins, and 3 "lives" (drinks/shots) per player.

The Rules: Everyone puts £1 in the pot. Players take turns taking a single shot. If you pot a ball, you are safe. If you miss, you lose a life (drink a shot). The last man standing with lives remaining wins the cash pot.

10. Spoof

The Setup: 3 coins per player.

The Rules: Everyone secretly holds 0, 1, 2, or 3 coins in their closed fist and places it on the table. Going around the circle, players must guess the total number of coins held by everyone combined.

The Goal: If you guess correctly, you are out (safe). The last person remaining is the loser and buys the round.

11. Beer Pong

The Setup: 12 cups, a long table, and a ping pong ball.

The Rules: Arranged in two triangles at opposite ends. Teams take turns throwing the ball into the opponent's cups. If it lands, the opponent drinks that cup. First team to clear the table wins.

12. Confidence or Arrogance

The Rules: Take an empty pint glass. A player flips a coin. Before flipping, they pour some of their own drink into the central glass—as much as they dare. They then call "Heads" or "Tails."

The Result: Guess correctly? Pass the coin to the next player, who adds their drink to the mix. Guess wrong? You must down the entire dirty pint mixture.

Part 2: The Top 5 Forfeits

Where there are winners, there are losers. If someone loses a game, here are the top 5 punishments.

1. Knickers in a Twist: Buy the most impractical, uncomfortable pair of thongs/knickers you can find. The loser has to wear them (over or under their trousers) for the rest of the night.

2. The Red Hot Chilli Chomper: Bring a raw chilli pepper. The loser eats it in one go. Keep milk on standby!

3. The Dancing Fool: The loser must go to the dancefloor alone and perform an over-the-top routine. He is only allowed to return if he gets a stranger to copy his moves.

4. The Mystery Pint: A classic. The group creates a drink using a mixer of whatever is on the table (lager, Guinness, wine, Tabasco...). The loser drinks it.

5. Sing for your Supper: Take the loser's wallet and phone. Place a hat on the ground outside the pub. He cannot come back inside until he has busked enough loose change from strangers to buy his next pint.

Part 3: Legendary Stag Pranks

The Groom (The Stag) is the main target. It is his last night of freedom, and tradition dictates he must suffer slightly.

The "Appearance" Pranks

The Glow Up (UV Paint): If you are going clubbing, buy invisible UV paint. Paint a message (or a crude drawing) on the Stag's white t-shirt or face. He won't see it... until he walks under the UV lights in the nightclub.

Just The Tattoo of Us: Buy a pair of matching temporary tattoos. Apply one to the Stag's face/neck while he is asleep. Apply the matching one to the person he would least like to be "paired" with. Wake them up and reveal the "romantic" matching ink.

Break a Leg (The Fake Cast): While the Stag is passed out, use papier-mâché or plaster to create a fake cast on his leg. When he wakes up groggy, convince him he fell down the stairs and broke it. Film his panic.

The "Tying Him Up" Classics

It isn't big, and it isn't clever, but it is tradition. Here are the top 5 things to tie a Stag to:

1. The Lamppost: The undisputed champion. Use clingfilm for a secure hold.

2. A Bench: Perfect if he is already asleep on it.

3. An Office Chair: Fun because he remains mobile, but you control where he goes.

4. A Table Leg: Do this while sat in the pub. Tie his ankle to the table leg. Wait for him to try and stand up to go to the toilet.

5. The Drunkest Guy: Tie the Stag to the most chaotic member of the group. Where one goes, the other must follow.

The Suitcase Swap (Psychological Warfare)

When you pick the Stag up, distract him and swap the contents of his bag with a decoy set. Fill it with ladies' underwear, fancy dress, or sex toys. Wait until he unpacks at the hotel and watches his face drop.

Crucial Warning: DO NOT do this if you are flying! Airport security has zero sense of humour about "suspicious items" in bags. Save this for UK road trips.

Part 4: When Pranks Go Wrong (Be Careful!)

We love a prank, but there is a line. If you cross it, you could end up with a ruined wedding, a criminal record, or worse. Here are three real stories of pranks that went too far. Don't be these guys.

The Kidnap that caused Shingles

16 lads in Somerset "kidnapped" the groom using balaclavas and smoke bombs. They drove him 100 miles and made him cycle home on a rusty bike. The stress was so high that the groom developed Shingles, couldn't see his bride for a month, and almost missed his own wedding.

The Chicken Incident

Two stags in Bournemouth bought live chickens and released them into their hotel. It resulted in animal cruelty charges, court appearances, and fines under the Animal Welfare Act. If your prank involves live animals, just don't do it.

The Glasgow Airport Bomb Hoax

One prankster thought it would be funny to put a fake bomb in the Stag's luggage. Security shut down the area, panic spread, and the joker was arrested and put in front of a Sheriff. He missed the holiday. Airport security is never the place for pranks!

The Golden Rule

If you are planning a prank, ask yourself: Will this cause physical injury? Will the police be called? Will the bride cancel the wedding?

If the answer is "Yes," pick a different game from the list above!

Ready to Plan your Stag Do?

Now you have the entertainment sorted, you need the destination.

If you want to book a legendary weekend without the stress. Browse our top destinations or contact our team to build the perfect package your experience starts here.