Gallon challenge
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The gallon challenge is a physical challenge in which a person attempts to drink a gallon of milk within one hour without vomiting. There are many variations to the challenge, so formal rules have not been set. However, many groups including the Gallon Challenge Foundation play with the following set of rules:
- The entire gallon must be consumed within the course of one hour.
- If one vomits, one is disqualified.
- Whole milk is typically used; however, chocolate milk (although more difficult to consume) is eligible, provided that chocolate syrup (or an equivalent) is added to the gallon of whole milk.
The difficulty of the challenge would increase dramatically if the participant is also required to continue to keep the milk down for at least one hour after consuming it.
[edit] Difficulty
Despite the seemingly simple nature of the challenge, it is widely regarded to be nearly impossible to complete. There are a number of proposed theories for this, including:
- The high volume of lactose in the milk, causing a gag reflex[citation needed]
- The high volume of milk fat which cannot be digested quickly enough (the same reason to drink milk after ingesting some poisonous substances)[citation needed]
- The reaction between milk proteins and stomach acid, causing the milk to curdle and fill the stomach[citation needed]
Despite these theories, it is possible although extremely uncommon for a person to be able to complete a gallon challenge. On August 12, 2006, at the 6th Annual Gallon Challenge in front of a crowd of about 40 people including local press, Joseph Ubriaco and Raymond Donnelly and Joseph Herbert completed the gallon challenge successfully. The Challenge was also successfully completed on April 1, 2007 by Ethan Mohr of The Ohio State University, in only 45 minutes. Ethan did not vomit even in the hours after the challenge.
By contrast, most participants are unable to even ingest the entire gallon of milk.
The difficulty has been increased in British attempts at the gallon challenge, where the British imperial gallon is used. An imperial gallon is 1.2 US gallons.
The challenge may also be done using other rich beverages such as eggnog.
[edit] External links
- Gallon Challenge Foundation - Holds an Annual Gallon Challenge as a charity fundraiser in New York state during the summer.
- Press coverage of the 6th Annual Gallon Challenge - Including eyewitness accounts of two people able to complete the challenge.
- MilkGallon - Has held 6 milk drinking contests, with a few completing the gallon challenge.
- [1] Joey Chestnut completes "challenge" with whole milk in under minute without vomiting!
