Beer Pong is a drinking game in which players throw a ping pong ball across a table to land the ball in one of several cups of beer on the other end.  The game typically consists of two 2-player teams, facing opposite each other across a table, and 6 or 10 plastic cups arranged in a triangle in front of each team.  When a ball lands in a cup, the defending team must consume the beer inside that cup.  The game is won by eliminating all of the other team’s cups before they eliminate your cups.  The losing team must then consume all of the beer remaining in the winning team’s cups.  There are no official rules, so rules can vary widely.  Beer pong is popular at parties, colleges, and tailgating at sporting events.

A new report today from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta reports that HSV-1, the virus that causes cold sores, is on the rise for beer pong players aged 17-21.  The huge jump (up 230% from 2007) is raising concern with disease officials, teachers and parents.

"This epidemic is something we should pay close attention to. We’re aware that we cannot outright prevent [beer pong], so we have provided new red cups available to all students in the dorms," said President of Arizona State University, Michael M. Crow.

There’s an obvious solution to this problem, as noted by one of the readers at Current.com:  "This is why I stick to my favorite drinking game.  It’s called, "Drinking," and in it, you get a drink, preferably one with an obscene amount of alcohol in it, then you drink it as fast as you can.  Once the drink is empty you get another one and repeat. It’s really fun, and I always win!"

CDC Tips for Safe Beer Pong

• Never share beer cups
• Discard cups after every use
• Do not stack cups
• Get tested for STDs regularly
• Remember, alcohol may impair the ability to play beer pong safely

Links

• Popularity of Beer Pong Leads to Cold Sore Transmission
• 33 Best Beer Pong Tables Ever Created
• BeerPong.com
• Beer Pong in Wikipedia