Buckhead's Hole in the Wall seems like any other club made popular over the past 20 years; young women dance around as cheery guys chug the cheap brew. But the real action doesn't take place on the dance floor. Rather, the biggest draw at Hole in the Wall is, apparently, beer pong—a drinking game that has escaped its frat house confines and taken the mainstream by storm.
From a just released video game in its likeness, to the World Series of Beer Pong—which so far has attracted players up to 51-years-old—anyone can now partake.
"The game really grew five years ago, so a lot of people who loved the game [in college] are now growing up," said Billy Gaines, the co-founder of bpong.com and the World Series.
Although there are multiple ways to play beer pong, the general rules remain the same. Individual players or teams throw a ball across a table in an attempt to land it in one of a set of usually six or ten cups containing beer at the other end. If the ball lands in a cup, the opposing players have to drink the beer in that cup. Whoever eliminates the other teams cups first wins.
While the blithe attitude behind the game may be a frightening reality to parents and advocacy groups that criticize it for encouraging underage and binge drinking, most beer pong enthusiasts disagree.
"It's a chance for competition and more importantly social interaction," said Brent Burdett, general manager of Hole in the Wall, in an email. "It's no more a catalyst to binge drinking than a group of folks getting together to play poker."
Still, Burdett said that the venue and its players take precautions. Some people will use a pitcher of water instead of beer if they are driving and if someone appears too drunk at the bar, they'll be "cut off," he said.
The game's consequential tables have been popping up at other local bars, too.
Tin Roof Cantina on Briarcliff road near North Druid Hills has been hosting beer pong for the past year on its patio.
Varner's Restaurant and Tavern in Smyrna, and Peachtree Tavern and Moondogs in Buckhead, also host beer pong.
On Wednesday's and Thursday's three dozen or more people are known to play beer pong at Hole in the Wall, the game's most popular nights.
"I was an Olympian, but they pulled beer bong from the games; that's why I'm not in Beijing right now," joked Louis Bankston, 25, of his practiced beer pong skills as he wrapped a competitive round of the game .
The competition at local bars, however, is infantile when pitted against the World Series, held annually in Las Vegas.
Next January's event is expected to grow to 500 two-player teams—up from this year's 296—each vying for the $50,000 grand prize.
Another outgrowth from the game's success is the debut of JV Games Pong Toss for Wii Ware, the downloadable platform for the Nintendo system.
In less than three weeks the game has attracted tens of thousands of downloads-impressive for the gaming low season.
"We decided it would be fun to start a game for people who don't want to set up tables or don't want to drink," said Vince Valenti, director of developments at JV Games.
The game, and its culture, is also spurring sales for some businesses. "My company has grown every year between 100% and 300% in revenue," said Jeffrey Eichelberger of his three-year-old Atlanta based website, boozingear.com. The site sells custom beer pong tables and alcohol branded apparel, among other things.
Beginning this month, BJ's Beer Pong, a popular beer pong site, will embark on a national college bus tour in partnership with the World Series. It comes to Georgia Tech November 20.
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