Milk chugging

Several one-gallon containers of milk

Milk chugging, or gallon challenge, is the process of consuming a large amount of milk within a set period of time. Although there are variations in procedure, many adherents follow to the mostly general parameters; a person is given 60 minutes to drink a full gallon of whole milk without vomiting.

History

The first recorded occurrences of competitive milk chugging^[1] date back to the early 1997>^[2][3] where there are several explanations for the origins of the challenge. Undoubtedly, the most highly publicized competition was one that was featured in episode 5 of Season 2 of the American television series Jackass,^[4] where Dave England and Ehren McGhehey were featured in a gallon challenge segment. Filmed in Portland, Oregon in the year 2000, contestants were to consume one gallon of milk in an hour in a variety of flavors, which resulted in each participant vomiting. The show has been largely held responsible for teens and young adults copycatting the stunts that they perform,^[5] although a disclaimer is presented at the beginning of each show.

Rise to fame

Regardless of the exact origin, milk chugging had gained popularity^[6] and a following, especially in the United States. The rumors of its impossibility,^[4][7] as well as media coverage^[4] have led to the appeal among high school and college students,^[8][9] as well as celebrities^[10] and state senators.^[11] The notion of a Gallon Challenge does not implicitly mean a gallon of milk^[12] and can be substituted for a gallon of a consumable liquid, such as water,^[12][13] yet milk remains what is most closely associated with the term. Though virtually all cases result in vomiting, some participants find the activity fun.^[14]

Rules

There are three universal rules in what has been called the Gallon Challenge, although some minor variations may exist.^[15]

1. The contestant has one hour to drink one U.S. liquid gallon^a[›] of milk^b[›].
2. Should the contestant finish the gallon within that hour, they must retain the gallon for a set period of time^c[›].
3. Should they retain the gallon, they win. Otherwise, if the contestant vomits prior to the set period of time has passed, they lose.

Variations

• There may be no eating during the hour of ingestion.^[15]

^ a: Although in almost all cases the challenge is set for one gallon,^[8] in some cases a different amount is used, such as six pints.^[11]

^ b: Specifications on the type of milk vary, or are unspecified. Some require that it must be whole milk, as skim may give an advantage,^[16] or allow for flavored milks, such as chocolate^[8][15] to be consumed, while some ban the use of it.^[17] Still, some challenges not only allow, but suggest the use of skim milk.^[18]

^ c: There are several variations of this rule; the milk must simply be drunk in an hour without vomiting,^[4] the drinker must retain the contents without vomiting for one additional hour without vomiting,^[17] or the drinker must retain the contents for an hour after they finish drinking the gallon.^[16]

Legacy

Joseph Ubriaco competing in the annual Gallon Challenge

Many high school and college students hold their own challenges: Phi Delta Tau, at the Central College in Pella, Iowa have traditionally hosted an annual gallon challenge, four Rutgers fraternities host challenges for fundraisers,^[13] some MIT students celebrated the 4th of July with a challenge,^[18] as well as many other official and unofficial gallon challenges.^[19] In 2008, several members of a fraternity in Arizona participating in a "milk-chug" were arrested for causing a car accident after vomiting into traffic below the bridge they were competing on.^[20]

Peter Ubriaco founded the non-profit Gallon Challenge Foundation in 2004, formalizing a local gallon challenge contest held since 2000. The organization raised donations during the yearly challenge for food and health related organizations; after their 2006 challenge in held in New York City,^[16] they donated to the Food Allergy Initiative,^[21] a non-profit organization that raises awareness and funds for the treatment and cure of food allergies.

The act of milk-chugging has also been the centerpiece for a photographer and artists' show in 2005, where he featured an image entitled "Milk Chuggers", and a video called "the Milk Chugger", where he films himself drinking milk until he vomits.^[1] In 2009, Jimmy Fallon held a milk chugging contest on NBC's “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”, with guests Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe and Dario Franchitti.^[10] On the broadcast, Fallon wore a rain poncho and drank chocolate milk, while the drivers drank regular milk. Also in 2009,^[22] and again in 2010, North Carolina members of the General Assembly, which included Bob Atwater, William Brisson, Andrew Brock, Dewey Hill, Joe Sam Queen and Arthur Williams,^[23] competed in a milk-chugging contest, held at North Portico of the Legislative Building in Raleigh,^[22] to raise awareness in the dairy industry.^[24] Winners of the contest would receive money to donate to a charity of their choice.^[11]

Medical explanation

Sarah Ash, a professor of nutrition at North Carolina State University, comments that the primary difficulty in completing the challenge lies in the limited capacity of the stomach. Generally, the stomach can hold only half a gallon. Stretch receptors in the organ sense when its limit is reached, triggering a vomit reflex. Moreover, drinking a gallon of milk is more difficult than drinking a gallon of water. The fat and protein in milk both inhibit the stomach from releasing its contents into the small intestine, forcing more of the liquid to remain in the stomach.^[4] Milk is also preferred to water, because of the risk of water intoxication.

It is often claimed that the difficulty is related to lactose intolerance: the inability of many people to metabolize lactose, a major component of milk. Ash finds this theory unlikely, as the symptoms of lactose intolerance occur in the large intestine, rather than the stomach.^[4]

See also

• Competitive eating
• Saltine cracker challenge

References

1. ^ ^{a b} O'Sullivan, Michael (2005-06-10). "Illicit Encounters at Strand on Volta". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/09/AR2005060900651_pf.html. Retrieved 2010-07-13. 
2. ^ (2005-2007). "History of the Annual Gallon Challenge." Gallon Challenge Foundation. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
3. ^ "History." the GALLON CHALLENGE. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Young, Luke (2006-08-29). "Chugging for glory". Technician. http://www.technicianonline.com/features/chugging-for-glory-1.1110141. Retrieved 2010-07-12. 
5. ^ Kruger, Harold (2005-06-02). "Driver free in Marysville stunt death". Appeal-Democrat. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/king-15310-mcgrath-merry.html. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
6. ^ Blumenfeld, Amir (2006). "Food, Health, and Laundry: Freshman Fifteen." The CollegeHumor guide to college: selling kidneys for beer money, sleeping with your professors, majoring in communications, and other really good ideas. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
7. ^ Walsh, Mary (2006-01). "Mission Impossible: A Gallon of Milk in an Hour." POiNTS iN CASE. The Fine Print of College Life. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
8. ^ ^{a b c} Slaughter, Shannon (2010-04-30). "Wonderful Wednesday milk-chugging contest concludes winnerless." Milligan College: The Stampede. Retrieved 2010-07-13
9. ^ Rockey, Alicia (2009-04-16) "Feature Photo: Milk Chug Challenge." The Daily Eastern News. Retrieved 2010-07-13
10. ^ ^{a b} Castroneves Racing PR (2009-05-19). "Milk chugging contest with Jimmy Fallon." Helio Castroneves. Retrieved 2010-07-13
11. ^ ^{a b c} Dairy Herd news source (2010-07-01). "Milk-chugging for charity." Dairy Herd. Retrieved 2010-07-13
12. ^ ^{a b} Stone, Alex (2009). "The One Gallon Challenge." Hauling Checks: A Novel. Retrieved 2010-07-13
13. ^ ^{a b} Yu, Margaret (2009-04-19). "Four fraternities raise funds for Chi Fest trophy." The Daily Targum. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
14. ^ Wolff, Josephine (2007-4-18). "Milk-chug contest disbanded in Rocky." The Daily Princetonian. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
15. ^ ^{a b c} Atkinson, Nat (2006). "Rules." MilkGallon: The Home of The Gallon Challenge. Retrieved 2010-07-12
16. ^ ^{a b c} Benners, Ashley (2006-09-28). "To chug or not to chug, that is the question." The Appalachian. Retrieved 2010-07-13
17. ^ ^{a b} Wright, Andrew (2001-04). "What is the Challenge?" The Gallon Challenge. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
18. ^ ^{a b} Fan, Jingyun (2010-07-07). "Accepting the 'Challenge': Students chug milk to celebrate Fourth." MIT: The Tech Online Edition. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
19. ^ Bagnas, Jessielynn and Barberena, Luis (2003-10-30). "Gallon Challenge! Students hold milk chugging contest to break stress." The Norwich Guidon. Retrieved on 2010-07-13
20. ^ Halverstadt, Lisa (2008-10-03). "ASU police arrest 9 in 'milk chug' challenge." The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
21. ^ (2005-2007) "The 6th Annual Gallon Challenge is over". Gallon Challenge Foundation.. Retrieved 2010-07-13
22. ^ ^{a b} Hinnant, Jim (2009-07-10). "Milk-Chugging contest." PACC-10 TV News. Retrieved 2010-07-13
23. ^ Hensch, Mark (2010-06-30). "Milk Chugging." The News & Observer. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
24. ^ (2010-06-28). "Annual Milk-Chugging Contest To Be Held In Raleigh." WXII12. Retrieved 2010-07-13