Kastenlauf

Kastenlauf, also kistenlauf, bierkastenlauf, bierlauf, bierkastenrennen (literally "crate-running", "beer crate-running", or equivalents) or biergrätle-race is a drinking game/sport that is popular in Germany and Switzerland. It is a competition among teams that consist of two people carrying a crate of beer while walking a fixed distance, the winner being the first team to cross the finish line having drunk the entire case of beer. [de icon Fuldaer Zeitung [http://www.fuldaerzeitung.de/sixcms/detail.php?template=fz_meldung_04&id=149848 "Tragischer Unfall beim Fuldaer Kastenlauf"] , 19. Juli 2006] [de icon [http://www.fsi-philo.uni-wuerzburg.de/it/ueber_uns/index.pdf A 2007 brochure abut the Philosophy Department] , University of Würzburg]

The route is about 10km long, although it can vary from half this to twice this.

In Munich, kastenlauf events have been organized since 1982. [de icon [http://www.mayers-online.de/archiv_4_03.html "Die zehn Kultveranstaltungen im Münchner Uni-Kalender"] , "Mayers" magazine, 2003, no.4]

Rules

The most important rule in kastenlauf is to have fun. Remember, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game. For the purposes of game mechanics and health reasons, however, there are still some rules.

#Each team is to consist of two people.
#Each team is to carry one case of beer; either 24 bottles of 330 mL (11 oz) or 20 bottles of 500 mL (16 oz).
#The beer is to be roughly 5% alcohol by volume.
#For women or certain other groups, smaller beer bottles or weaker beer may be used.
#Players may bring supplementary food or drink if they wish.
#No supplementary equipment is to be used, be it for helping transport the crate or anything else. The crate is to be moved only by being carried by the participants.
#Anyone who spills beer is disqualified.
#No-one may induce vomiting.
#In more organized competitions, there may be checkpoints along the way where empty bottles can be left. Otherwise, they are carried with the team.
#The winner shall be the team which crosses the finish line first with the beer case, having drunk all the beer.
#Teams may stop for a rest whenever they wish, (as in any race) though the other teams are not required to stop.
#All the players should be of suitable age and state of health to play the game safely.
#Interference is discouraged and the environment should be one of mutual respect.
#Peer pressure should be minimal and all players should be free to quit if they are no longer having fun.

ee also

*Case race
*Bierathlon [http://books.google.com/books?id=VW_-IOm3stoC&pg=PA121&dq=bierathlon&ei=7uYGR7vsIqOGpwL9t6GfDQ&sig=sWxko9gxcomH-osW07FvapHXjc8]

References

* [http://www.vogelsberg-netz.de/content/view/725/ "Vogelsberger Kastenlauf"]