How Beirut/Beer Pong Became a Real Bar Sport
What is Bar Pong/Pub Pong?
Players throw or bounce a ping pong ball across a table with the intent of landing the ball in one of several cups on the other end. The game typically consists of two two-player teams, although it can also be played one on one, one team on each end of the table, and six or ten cups arranged in a triangle at both ends. When a ball lands in a cup, the cup is removed from the triangle. The game is won by eliminating all of the other team's cups before one's own cups are eliminated. Water is used in the cups to comply with state liquor laws.
History of the Sport
Beer Pong was popularized at college campuses all over the US during the 1980s. The game was originally named Beirut due to the following: since the name Beer Pong had already been assigned to the game with paddles, a name for the game without paddles was in need.
What ended up coming to mind was the throwing of the ping pong balls into opposite cups symbolizing the “bombings” from East Beirut to West Beirut while they were at war in the 70s in Lebanon. The game spread quickly across the nation picking up a bunch of variations as it went, and is currently the most popular sport on campus these days! We have legitimized the game by involving pub patrons and in turn making it a fun pub past time.