The Ultimate Guide to Stag Do Games, Pranks & Forfeits

Organising a stag do can be overwhelming. The destination is chosen, the accommodation is sorted, the pre-planned activities are pre-planned. 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 what we consider to be the definitive list of stag do games and pranks.

Disclaimer: We encourage everyone to drink responsibly. All games, pranks and activities below can be played with soft drinks instead of alcohol 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), which is why stag do games are perfect to play as an ice-breaker! So here’s a few game options for you, split down into the best places to play them!

The "Airport & Travel" Games

Stuck in the terminal waiting for your flight to Prague or Budapest? Don't just sit there bored, why not try one of these games?

• 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.
• The Visa Prank
  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. This one requires preparation, but is totally worth it!

The "Beach" Games

If you are heading to a destination with a beach – whether it is Bournemouth, Newquay, or Benidorm, you will likely hit the sand for some relaxing and fun while you are there. So here’s a few games that are great to play on the beach!

• Ballcock Massacre
  You’ll need a tennis ball for this one, but that’s all the required preparation. The rules are simple - The Stag starts with the ball and you need to 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. You can play this in timed rounds, or just play one massive game, where you battle for supremacy over an afternoon.
• Beach Hangman
  Classic Hangman, but drawn in the sand. Use embarrassing phrases related to the Groom (bonus points if you can reveal an embarrassing secret this way too!) 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 can run in the background throughout the entire trip, lending an air of competition to everything you do. These games will keep everyone on their toes and result in some absolutely hilarious situations.

• Mr President
  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."
• The Unnamed Man
  This one is simple but infuriating in equal measure. 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!"). Any time you slip up (and you will, because everyone does), you will have to face a forfeit – whether that is just downing your current drink, or something more specific to the situation.
• Weak Hand Drinking
  Everyone must hold their drink in their "weak" hand (left hand for right-handers, and vice versa) for the entire evening. 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.
• God Save the Queen (The Penny Game)
  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. – Fun Fact, this game derives from the Kings Shilling, where in the 18 ^th century the Navy would slip a shilling into unspecting peoples drinks, as once you had finished your drink and picked up the coin, you had accepted the Kings Shilling, which meant you were enlisted in the Navy!

The Pub Classics

These games are perfect for when you are in a pub enjoying a relaxed evening.

• Killer Pool
  You need a pool table and some £1 coins for this one. Everyone has three lives, and 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.
• Spoof
• 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. If you guess correctly, you are out (safe). The last person remaining is the loser and buys the round.
• Beer Pong
  This one is a classic, but you do need a few things with you – notably, twelve cups and a ping pong ball, and you need to sit at a decent length table. Arrange the cups 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.
• Confidence or Arrogance
  Before you start, place an empty pint glass in the middle of the table. The first player pours some of their own drink into the central glass—as much as they dare. They then call "Heads" or "Tails" and flip a coin. If they guessed correctly, they pass the coin to the next player, who adds their drink to the mix. If anyone gets it wrong tho? Then they must down the entire dirty pint mixture.

Part 2: The Top 5 Forfeits

The thing with stag do games is that you have winners, but you have (usually more) losers. So the next question is what forfeit to give the losers? Well here are our top five favourite forfeits (try saying that one fast!)

• Knickers in a Twist: Find the nearest primark / charity shop and buy the most impractical, uncomfortable pair of thongs/knickers you can find. The loser has to wear them (over or under their trousers, depending on how mean you are) for the rest of the night.
• The Red Hot Chilli Chomper: Bring a raw chilli pepper. The loser has to eat it in one go. Keep milk on standby!
• 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.
• 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.
• 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. (Important note for this one – someone has to stay with him, just in case!)

Part 3: Legendary Stag Pranks

These games and forfeits are all good fun, but we shouldn’t forget that the Stag is the main target for the stag do. After all, 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

Tying the stag to something may not be big and it may not be clever, but it is tradition. With that in mind, here are the top five things to tie a Stag to:

• The Lamppost: The undisputed champion. Use clingfilm for a secure hold.
• A Bench: Perfect if he is already asleep on it.
• An Office Chair: Fun because he remains mobile, but you control where he goes.
• 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. It’s like a more grown up version of tying someones shoelaces together when you were a kid.
• The Drunkest Guy on the stag do: Tie the Stag to the most chaotic member of the group. Where one goes, the other must follow.

Psychological Warfare!

• The Suitcase Swap
  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.
• The Fake Arrest
  There are a few destinations where you can arrange for a fake policeman to show up and arrest the stag – this is obviously not one you can enact yourselves, but with a bit of planning we can make sure it’s part of your stag do if you want!

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 like 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.