A beer mile is a 1-mile (1.6 km) drinking race combining running and speed drinking. Typically, the race takes place on a standard 400-metre or 1/4-mile running track. The race begins at the 1-mile starting line with the consumption of a 12-US-fluid-ounce (355 ml) beer, followed by a full lap around the track. The next three laps continue in a similar manner: another 12-ounce beer is consumed before commencing the running of each lap. Following the completion of the fourth running lap (and four beers), a competitor has finished the race.
In North America, 12 US ounces of beer are consumed from a can or bottle before every lap. A set of rules has been defined and published by BeerMile.com.[1]
The current world record holder is Canadian Corey Bellemore, who won his third world title on October 23, 2021, with a time of 4:28.1.[2] He broke his own record of 4:33.6, which he set in San Francisco in 2017.[3]
Shelby Houlihan broke the women's beer mile record in 2023 with a time of 5:43.81, becoming the first woman to break six minutes.[4]