Strange

Beer Pong Linked to Herpes, Mono, Influenza, Hangovers

by Jon Azpiri | February 24, 2009 at 12:34 pm

3443 views | 13 Recommendations | 12 comments

The age-old game of beer pong may do more than encourage binge drinking. A new CDC study claims that the drinking game can encourage the spread of viruses like the flu, herpes, and mononucleosis.

For the uninitiated, beer pong is played by lining up several cups of beer on a long table. Competitors then try to toss a ping-pong into the cups. The team that gets a ball in every cup first wins. The losers are forced to drink.

While it may appear to be a harmless rite of passage, the CDC says that beer pong may also be a breeding ground for germs.

According to the Center for Disease Control, unprotected beer pong play is nearly as dangerous as unprotected sex.

Little do many Beirut players know, or at least … think to consider once they’ve gotten their buzz, is that sharing these cups with partners and others can lead to the transmission of a number of different illnesses and viruses.

Another threat is the ping-pong ball, which is often handled by several people during a game and often ends up rolling around on the floor picking up debris.

The CDC beer pong study recommends playing the game with cups filled with water (or you could play an online version.) Also keep in mind that if you play beer pong with someone, you're playing beer pong with everyone that they've ever played beer pong with.

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Jordan Yerman

at 12:39 on February 24th, 2009

I'd replace "often ends up rolling around on the floor picking up debris" with "occasionally makes it onto the table".

JeffHuang

at 12:44 on February 24th, 2009

You can't play beer pong with cups filled with water.

I personally think the ping pong ball rolling on the floor everywhere is the worst, but when you start playing you don't think too much about it.

On a side note. I am awesome at beer pong if anyone wants a game.

Karenke4

at 13:01 on February 24th, 2009

This post has brought up far too many unfortunate memories. Those floors are never, ever anything you would want to eat off of, nevermind drink from! I wonder at the germs I consumed in my college days... My guess is my immune system took quite a beating.

Best not to look at the ball or beer, but I agree with Jeff, water just won't work.

Seados.

at 21:07 on February 24th, 2009

Just a party at my friends house. Taken with Canon 450D and 50mm f/1.8

Seados. has contributed a photo to this story.

ThePicMan

at 04:32 on February 25th, 2009

Super Bowl XLIII Tailgate in Tampa, FL

ThePicMan has contributed a photo to this story.

kingofthebigmacs

at 13:59 on February 25th, 2009

The benefits beer pong supplies especially fun and entertainment, far outweigh the slim possibility of catching a pathogen off the floor. Just use a wash cup to clean the ball off, and have fun! If you are worried about getting sick from playing beer pong, then dont play---simple as that.

kona417

at 17:24 on February 25th, 2009

Beer Pong 3D rendering with Google Sketchup 6 & Fryrender.

beer-me (not verified)

at 19:56 on February 26th, 2009

has the author ever heard of a dunk cup? doesn't get rid of bacteria but debris comes off. just need a dunk cup with some H&H vodka in it and you're golden. well with exception of the cups. but if you are willing to drink after the person under other circumstances than it doesn't matter anyway

B. Anne

at 19:28 on March 8th, 2009

B. Anne has contributed a photo to this story.

wtf (not verified)

at 23:26 on March 3rd, 2009

Did everyone sleep during sex ed? why on Earth do people not know this was a hoax?

Drew Cherry (not verified)

at 13:55 on March 25th, 2009

We never even thought of everthing that could be transmitted by playing the game, but I personally thank you for publishing the story and asking to use our photo... We have informed as many people as possible of how risky it is to use the same cups and now give the option to a team or person of bringing their own cups or of using the cups with water in them and drinking from their own container (this is now standard to us).

Tektum

at 16:17 on March 25th, 2009

This is old news, the CDC reported this a while ago, it was proven that the studies they quoted were hoax!

This was from the cdc:

Alleged CDC Beer Pong/Herpes Simplex study is a HOAX
Recent news stories about an alleged CDC study showing a possible link between the drinking game, Beer Pong, and herpes simplex 1, the virus that causes cold sores, are false. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not publish the referenced article. For more information please contact CDC's Division of Media Relations at 404-639-3286.