| Players | 2+ |
|---|---|
| Setup time | none |
| Game length | ongoing |
| Alcohol(s) used | Smirnoff ice |
| Skills required | cunning, misdirection |
Icing is a drinking game in which certain individuals or groups of individuals are required to drink a bottle of Smirnoff Ice or any type of Smirnoff Malt Beverage. The game has been featured on CNN Money/Fortune[1] and TNA Impact!, Tosh.0, and ridiculed by Cracked.[2]
Participants are encouraged to come up with elaborate ways to present the Smirnoff Ice to their targets by hiding bottles in inconspicuous locations, or in situations where drinking it would be dangerous or embarrassing (e.g. before they drive somewhere, attend a meeting, etc.). Failure to drink, no matter the circumstance, results in the humiliation of the victim, and players are encouraged to mistreat those who refuse to play.[2]
To participate in icing, one player must ice another by hiding a Smirnoff Ice so that another player will unintentionally touch it. If the second player then touches the Smirnoff Ice, they must immediately chug it. You cannot Ice someone with more than one Ice at at time. (i.e. You cannot give two Ice's at one given time to the same person.)
The second player can perform an ice block (If agreed to be an acceptable rule by all players) by grabbing a Smirnoff Ice within arms reach (e.g. on his person). You are allowed one step to retrieve an ice block. An ice block can be in the form of any size Smirnoff Ice, thus upping the stakes for the challenger. Once the player presents this ice block to the original player, the original player must drink both ices. If an ice block is not performed, the player who was iced must get on one knee and chug the entire bottle. Drinking two ices at once is difficult and unrealistic over the course of a night, which is why players often opt not to use this rule.
You cannot ice block an ice block, as this would lead to back and forth infinite ice blocks. This also runs the risk of becoming a game of "who has more Ice", as opposed to a game of cunning and creativity. Refusal to consume an Ice results in excommunication, meaning that that player can no longer ice anyone or get iced. Furthermore, you cannot pour it into any other drinking container to mimic another liquid. This is punishable by drinking that said ice. Also, ice blocks must be done in person.
Within the game, players insist that there is no exception to the rule. If you refuse to consume the Smirnoff Ice on the spot you are banned for life or shunned unless the territory allows you back in the game (usually a form of initiation/hazing will be involved).[3]
Icing, which has been described by The New York Times as "the nation's biggest viral drinking game",[4] grew in popularity shortly after the appearance of the website BrosIcingBros.com in May 2010.[5] The game has featured some notable victims, including wrestler Ric Flair, rapper Coolio, actor Dustin Diamond, and professional gamer Fatal1ty. The goal of an online marketing campaign is to make Ashton Kutcher an Icing victim.[4]
There has been some doubt over whether this is an organic phenomenon or if it is merely a marketing stunt by Smirnoff. While Smirnoff has denied any involvement in the game, skeptics still exist. According to some, Smirnoff may be in a position where they would want to deny responsibility. Advertising executive Dick Martin has opined "Beyond the implicit slur on the beverage’s taste, I doubt any alcoholic beverage company would want to be associated with a drinking game that stretches the boundaries of good taste and common sense like this one does". The viral spread of the game has seen a boost in sales for the company.[4] Smirnoff insists that the game is "consumer-generated" and has reminded the public to drink responsibly.[4]
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