Having originated as a casual tradition among Canadian college runners to mark the end of their season, the beer mile is now a serious, fast-growing event that is popular in the world of competitive running. The first Beer Mile World Championship was held in 2014, before the Beer Mile World Classic – a separate but related event – was introduced a year later in 2015.
A decade on and the Beer Mile World Classic continues to attract competitive runners and beer fanatics worldwide. The race invites the elite beer milers – both men and women – from around the globe to compete in the infamous event, putting both their drinking and running stamina to the test.
In 2025, the Beer Mile World Classic will return for its 11th edition on Saturday 26 July 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal – so here’s what you need to know.
What is a beer mile?
A beer mile essentially involves consuming one beer for every 400m lap of the track that you run, for a total of four (and a bit) laps – the distance of one mile (or roughly 1.6km). The goal is to run and drink as fast as possible and without throwing up.
The original beer mile was run in August 1989 at a high school track in Ontario, Canada. Later, two of the original participants attended university in Kingston, Ontario, where they continued the beer mile tradition. This entertaining event soon grabbed wider attention and, through word of mouth, more races and competitions were organised. By 1993, popularity had soared, leading to the curation of an official set of beer mile rules.
What are the rules of a beer mile?
The rules of a beer mile are simple: drink, run, repeat. Run four laps of the track, drinking one beer for every lap, then cross the finish line – four beers down and a mile of running later – without throwing up.
Although this all sounds like fun and games, there are official rules. You must chug your first beer before you start running your first lap, then drink another beer before each successive lap until you complete the one-mile distance. Beer – canned or bottled – must also be fully consumed within the 9m transition area. This can be done stood still, walking or running – just get it down and carry on. Oh, and if you throw up before you finish the race, you must complete one penalty lap immediately after you complete your fourth lap of the track.
Cans or bottles must contain 355ml of beer, with an alcohol volume of at least 5%, and they cannot be tampered with in any way. So, no shotgunning, puncturing or squeezing – and definitely no straws!
How do you train for a beer mile?
There is no secret training plan or hack for the beer mile. However, if you want to put yourself in the best position to undertake this farcical test of endurance, here are a few tips.
Possessing the ability to comfortably stomach four beers is essential – but the good news is that you can select any beer of your choice for your mile, so long as it contains 5% alcohol by volume and is canned or bottled. Being able to down a beer in a relatively fast time will also benefit your performance, as will an ability to run Health & Injuries.
It is arguably easier to improve your running ability first by following a suitable training plan. Once you have this base, you can begin to master the art of downing large volumes of liquid. In training, you can do this by drinking water or any alternative of the required 355ml volume. Downing beers during every training session is not essential and probably won’t end well, but it will be necessary to – responsibly – incorporate some race-day simulation into your training.
Some suggest that you practise holding your breath to efficiently down the beer on race day, while others recommend that you practice taking large gulps of liquid rather than tipping it down in one go. We advise that you practise different techniques in your training and use whichever works best for you on race day. Remember, this event is not just about running ability – it’s also about the capacity to stomach a sizeable amount of liquid without feeling too full and without throwing it all back up.
What are the men’s and women’s beer mile world records?
The men’s beer mile world record stands at 4:28.10, which was clocked by Corey Bellemore of Canada in October 2021. This time smashed his own previous world record of 4:33.60, which he achieved in 2017. Although Bellemore opted for bottled beer when he set these marks, he does also hold the world record of 4:49.70 for the lesser-chosen canned beer mile.
The women’s world record of 5:43.81 is held by Shelby Houlihan of the US. She set this time in 2023 and, in doing so, became the first woman to break six minutes for the beer mile. Like Bellemore, she also selected bottled beer over canned beer for this victory.
Who are the favourites to win this year’s Beer Mile World Classic?
This year, the Beer Mile World Classic will come to Europe after two years in North America. It will be held at the União Atlético Povoense fútbol club facility in Lisbon, Portugal and it is set to see some of the competition’s biggest names battle it out.
World record holder Bellemore is hungry for another title and will return to the event after whispers of his retirement following last year’s race. But can he do it again? That’s the question on everybody’s lips, as he will be up against the world number two, Chris Robertson, who also holds the US record. It’s set to be an exciting competition.
America’s Elizabeth Laseter is the favourite to win the women’s race, as world record holder Houlihan, who wants to focus on professional track and field races this year, announced that she won’t be taking part in the 2025 competition. Laseter won last year’s Beer Mile World Classic and held the previous world record of 6:03.70, so she is definitely one to watch.
