Classic lawn darts, the 12-inch metal-tipped kind with plastic fins, have been banned for sale in the United States since 1988 after the CPSC linked them to three child deaths and thousands of skull and eye injuries. Any version worth playing today uses soft-tip or weighted plastic darts thrown at rings on the ground, not the vintage spikes your parents might remember from the garage. This guide covers the modern, safe version turned into a drinking game.
Lawn darts drinking game at a glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 to 8 (teams of 2 work best) |
| You need | A soft-tip lawn dart set (rings and darts), drinks |
| Distance | 15 to 35 feet between targets, start closer |
| You drink when | Your dart misses the ring, or your opponent lands one in yours |
What you need
- A modern soft-tip or weighted-plastic lawn dart set (two ring targets, four darts) – do not use vintage metal-tip lawn darts, they are banned for a reason
- Drinks for every player
- A flat lawn or open backyard with at least 35 feet of clear space and nobody standing downrange
Setup
- Lay the two ring targets 15 to 35 feet apart, further for a harder game.
- Split into teams of two, or play free-for-all with everyone taking a dart each round.
- Stand behind your own target and throw underhand toward the far ring.
- Decide who throws first with a coin flip.
The rules
- Take turns lobbing a dart underhand toward the opposing ring.
- In the ring: land a dart cleanly inside the far ring and the opposing team drinks.
- Leaner: a dart that lands on the ring itself but not inside is worth a half-drink, house rules permitting.
- Miss: a dart that lands outside the ring means the thrower’s own team drinks instead.
- Play to an agreed score, or just until the drinks run out.
House rule variations
- Closest dart: after all darts are thrown for the round, only the team with the closest dart to the ring scores, everyone else drinks. Speeds the game up for bigger groups.
- Reverse ringer: land a dart inside your own team’s ring by accident and you drink double.
- Growing distance: move the targets a foot further apart every round to keep the game from dragging on all night.
If lawn darts feels a little too spread out for your space, or you want something with more head-to-head trash talk, beer darts plays the same throw-and-drink idea at much closer range, aimed at a can instead of a ring. It is the tighter, louder cousin of this game.
Safety notes
- Never use vintage metal-tip lawn darts. They were banned from sale in the US in 1988 and destroying any you still own is the CPSC’s own advice.
- Only play with soft-tip or blunt weighted-plastic sets marketed as current lawn dart or yard dart products.
- Keep everyone well clear of the throwing lane, not just behind the thrower.
- Stop playing once anyone is too drunk to aim underhand safely, the whole point of the soft tip is a low-risk game, not a risk-free one.
Frequently asked questions
Are lawn darts illegal?
The classic metal-tipped version has been banned from sale in the US since December 1988 after being linked to skull-puncture injuries and three deaths. Modern lawn dart sets sold today use soft or blunt plastic tips and are legal, just always check the packaging before you buy or play with an old set.
Can I play this indoors?
Not recommended, even soft-tip lawn darts need real distance and a clear throwing lane. For an indoor-friendly throw-and-drink game, beer darts on a Battle Turf mat works in a garage or basement.
What is a good beginner distance?
Start at 15 feet and move the rings back as the group gets better. Anything past 35 feet gets difficult fast even for experienced players.
