This week we’re celebrating a few social holidays (May 11–17: American Craft Beer Week; May 13: World Cocktail Day; May 16: National Mimosa Day) by talking about drinking in games.
For RPG players, the journey almost always started in a tavern.
From tabletop D&D to MMOs, watering holes have been setting the mood since the very beginning.
A Brief History—
Tabletop:
1974–1990s: D&D planted the tavern at the start of many adventures; later systems like GURPS and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay added explicit “Consume Alcohol” skills and intoxication scales.
2000s–present: Indie titles like Drinking Quest make real-world drinking a core mechanic instead of just flavor, with content effectively self-regulated by social norms and retailers rather than any formal rating board.
Digital
1980s: Castle Wolfenstein and Tapper ( a Budweiser-branded beer-serving arcade game) showed early digital alcohol use, from schnapps affecting gunplay to pure beer-serving arcade loops later reskinned as Root Beer Tapper for family markets.
1990s: ESRB is founded and gradually standardizes substance descriptors so alcohol reference/use becomes visible to players and platform holders instead of being purely an internal platform concern.
Late 1990s–2000s: EverQuest introduces Alcohol Tolerance as a skill; drinking lowers some stats, adds blur and stagger, and in some encounters a group-wide drunkenness is a mechanic where a boss gets everyone drunk unless they’ve trained the skill. World of Warcraft lets players get tipsy through completely smashed, with edge blur, wobble, garbled speech, and even apparent level shifts on enemies.
2010s–present: In Fallout, you can drink your way across the wasteland, from recruiting the beer‑brewing robot in Trouble Brewin’ to crafting potent booze in Wasted on Alcohol. Guild Wars 2 tracks alcohol consumption via the Thirst Slayer achievement (up to 100,000 drinks), with alcohol items applying a Drunk effect and titles as rewards. Elder Scrolls Online uses festival items like Breda’s Bottomless Mead Mug and New Life drinks as repeatable XP buffs and quest steps, with beer/ale explicitly consumed in holiday content and some visual impairment effects layered on top.
In most games, if you do decide to throw one back, there’s usually a trade-off. A boost to your charm or strength, but then the you have to face the consequences… much like in real life!
So, have you ever had an adult beverage in a game? Did it feel fun or kinda weird? Let us know in the comments!
Written by
— Kevin D, Client Success
— Mace T, Project Manager
And now, for those bold mixologists brave enough to try something new…
Here are some fun RO inspired drink recipes (courtesy of Grok) to try out in your own private tavern.
If you try any of these drinks we’d love to hear your feedback!
*Drink responsibly. This post is for entertainment purposes only.*
Red Potion Cocktail
Inspired by the iconic Red Potion from Ragnarok Online — the reliable HP recovery item every adventurer relies on. This cocktail is bright crimson red, refreshing, slightly sweet with a tart kick, and has a magical, bubbly finish.
Ingredients (1 serving):
– 1.5 oz Vodka
– 1 oz Cranberry juice
– 0.75 oz Fresh lime juice
– 0.5 oz Grenadine syrup
– 0.25–0.5 oz Simple syrup (to taste)
– 2 dashes Angostura bitters
– Soda water (to top)
– Ice
Garnish:
– Skewer with fresh strawberry, blueberry, and maraschino cherry (like Jellopy drops)
– Fresh mint sprig
– Red sugar rim (optional, for extra potion flair)
Image by ChatGPT
Blue Potion Cocktail
This is the magical Blue Potion variation — the iconic mana (SP) recovery item. It has a striking deep blue color, a refreshing citrusy taste with a tropical twist, and a sparkling finish that feels like restoring your magical energy after casting spells.
Ingredients (1 serving):
– 1.5 oz Vodka (or white rum for a more tropical feel)
– 1 oz Blue Curaçao (the signature vibrant blue color)
– 1 oz Lemonade (or fresh lemon juice + simple syrup)
– 0.5 oz Coconut water (for smoothness and a subtle island vibe)
– 0.25 oz Simple syrup (adjust to taste)
– 0.75 oz Fresh lime juice
– Soda water or lemon-lime soda water (to top)
– Ice
Garnish:
– Skewer with blueberries and a lemon twist or slice
– Fresh mint sprig or a small edible blue flower (optional)
– Blue sugar rim (highly recommended for extra potion aesthetics)
Image by ChatGPT
Berserk Potion
Inspired by the Berserk Potion — the item that sends players into a frenzied rage with massively boosted attack speed. This whisky-based cocktail is bold, fiery, and powerful: deep blood-red, smoky, spicy, and dangerously drinkable.
Ingredients (1 serving):
– 2 oz Rye Whisky or Spiced Bourbon (the aggressive, fiery base — rye gives extra spice)
– 1 oz Cranberry juice (deep red “rage” color)
– 0.75 oz Fresh blood orange or regular orange juice
– 0.5 oz Honey syrup or maple syrup
– 0.25 oz Ginger liqueur (or 2 dashes ginger bitters)
– 1–2 dashes Chili tincture or cayenne pepper tincture (for the burning berserk heat — adjust to your tolerance)
– 2 dashes Angostura bitters
– 0.5 oz Cherry liqueur (e.g., Luxardo or Heering) — for extra depth and blood-like richness
Garnish:
– Flaming orange peel (express and briefly light the oils for a dramatic fire effect)
– Skewered luxardo cherries + a small dried chili or cinnamon stick
– Optional: Red sugar rim mixed with smoked paprika or chili powder
Image by ChatGPT
That’s all for this week.
Thanks for reading a have a fun and safe weekend!
We’ll see you next week!