Edward Fortyhands Drinking Game: Rules, Setup & Safer Variations

Edward Fortyhands is a drinking game where each player has a 40-ounce bottle taped to each hand and has to finish the drinks before the bottles come off. That is basically the whole game. It is named after Edward Scissorhands because apparently college students saw tragic gothic hand-blades and thought, “What if malt liquor?”

The rules are simple, but the version people argue about is whether both bottles must stay taped until both are empty, or whether you can remove one hand once that bottle is finished. There is no real official version. There is just the harsh version, the less harsh version, and the version where someone should have stopped the idea earlier.

EDWARD FORTYHANDS RULES — QUICK VERSION

Give each player two 40-ounce bottles, cans, or safer smaller alternatives.
Tape one drink securely to each hand.
Players start drinking once everyone is taped up.
You cannot use your hands normally while the drinks are taped on.
The traditional version says both bottles stay taped until both are empty.
The first player to finish both drinks wins, or the game ends when everyone taps out.

To play Edward Fortyhands: tape one drink to each hand, start at the same time, and race or pace yourself until the drinks are finished. The traditional drinking game uses two 40-ounce bottles, but a smarter party version uses smaller cans or bottles and lets players tap out without making it weird.

What You Need to Play Edward Fortyhands

Two drinks per player
Duct tape or strong tape
Scissors for removal
One sober or not-playing helper
Water nearby

Do not use glass if people are going to be moving around. Plastic bottles or cans are less cinematic, but also less likely to turn a dumb game into a medical bill.

Best Number of Players

Edward Fortyhands can technically be played by one person, but it works better with 2 to 6. You need at least one person with free hands to tape people up, cut tape off, open doors, manage spills, and generally keep the evening from becoming an engineering problem.

How to Set Up Edward Fortyhands

1. Choose the Drink Size

The classic version uses two 40-ounce bottles. CollegeWares recommendation: use smaller beers, hard seltzers, or non-glass bottles unless everyone actually understands what 80 ounces means.

2. Tape the Drinks to Each Hand

Tape firmly enough that the bottles stay attached, but not so tight that circulation becomes part of the game. Keep the tape around the bottle and hand, not directly crushing wrists.

3. Agree on Removal Rules

Decide whether players can remove one bottle once that side is empty or whether both stay attached until both are done. This is the main rule disagreement.

TAPE DRINKS → START TOGETHER → FINISH OR TAP OUT → REMOVE TAPE SAFELY

How to Play Edward Fortyhands

1. Start Everyone at the Same Time

Once both drinks are taped on, the game begins. If you are racing, first to finish both drinks wins. If you are not racing, finishing at all is the “win,” which is honestly more reasonable.

2. No Hands Until the Rule Is Met

The whole joke is that your hands are useless until the drinks are finished. Phones, bathrooms, snacks, and door handles all become weirdly complicated.

3. Remove the Tape Safely

Use scissors. Do not rip tape off skin like you are proving something to a fraternity basement.

Edward Fortyhands House Rules & Variations

Both Bottles Must Be Empty

This is the stricter traditional version. Neither hand is freed until both drinks are finished.

One-Hand Release

In this version, an empty bottle can be removed from that hand while the other stays taped. Same basic game, considerably less annoying.

Edward Twentyhands

Use smaller cans or bottles instead of 40s. Better for pregames, smaller people, and anyone who wants to remember why they came over.

Amy Winehands / Ciderhands

Some groups swap malt liquor for wine or cider. The mechanic is the same; the risk changes depending on ABV and bottle size.

Our Recommended Edward Fortyhands Rules

COLLEGEWARES EDWARD FORTYHANDS RULES

Use cans or plastic bottles, not glass.
Use smaller drinks unless the group deliberately wants the classic 40-ounce version.
Allow one-hand release when that drink is finished.
Let anyone tap out with no argument.
Keep scissors and water nearby.
No bathroom shaming. Grow up.

Is Edward Fortyhands Good for Beer Olympics?

Not really. It technically has a winner, but it rewards fast heavy drinking more than skill. For Beer Olympics, use cleaner competitive games like Beer Pong or Flip Cup.

For more low-setup games, browse our college drinking games guide.

FAQ

How do you play Edward Fortyhands?

Tape one drink to each hand and finish them before removing the tape. The classic version uses two 40-ounce bottles.

Do both bottles have to be empty before removal?

In the strict version, yes. A common easier variation lets players remove each bottle as soon as that specific drink is empty.

How do you win Edward Fortyhands?

The first player to finish both drinks wins. Some groups do not race and simply treat finishing as completion.

Can you play Edward Fortyhands safely?

You can make it safer, but the classic version is still intense. Use smaller drinks, avoid glass, allow tap-outs, and do not pressure anyone to finish.