Bottle polka is a simple game that is best played on someone else’s table with a group of people who have consumed a moderate amount of alcohol.

All the players sit round a large table.

Each player needs an empty beer bottle (or similiar object) which he or she holds on the table in front of him- or herself. The object of the game is to pass the bottles round the table without dropping them or getting out of kilter.

The passing should be done to a strict rhythm like this:

1. pass your bottle to the left,
2. pass the bottle you have just received also to your left,
3. now catch hold of the third bottle, move it to the left, but don’t let go of it,
4. move it back to the right, still keeping hold of it,
5. finally pass it to your left.

This must be done in unison by all the players. Players new to the game will need a few rounds to practice. During the practice, it is helpful to chant together “Pass on! Pass on! Dummy! Dummy! Pass on!” until you have all got the rhythm. Do it as fast as you can. Bang the bottles loudly on the table.

When you have all got the hang of it, you can start playing properly.

First you should all raise your bottles together in the middle and sing “Hi Hoooo!”, “Hi Hooooo!”. Then you can start passing the bottles round, but you must sing as you do it. There are various songs you can try, but Bottle Polka is best with the “Heigh-Ho” song adapted from Snow White.

Heigh-Ho! — pass on
Heigh-Ho! — pass on
It’s off to work we go — dummy, dummy, pass on
With a bucket and spade — pass on
And a hand-grenade — pass on
Heigh-Ho! Heigh-Ho! Heigh-Ho-Heigh-Ho! — dummy, dummy, pass on and so on.

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