Are you ready to live dangerously? Then, it’s time to let the good times roll with some new fangled, alcohol-inspired games this party season. As the Christmas and New Year festivities unfold, off-beat drinking games — think along the lines of board games played with shot glasses, beer tap funnels and hard hats fitted with beer-can holders — can definitely come handy to make the party rock and roll.

Besides, the regulation masquerade masks and neon balloons, drinking games are the new party favourites.

Cross & Knot

Home décor website roomstory.com, for instance, is briskly selling ‘drinking games’ on the website. Nipun Virmani of roomstory.com says that there are five drinking games in their repertoire. “People who’ve bought these drinking games to ring in Xmas and New Year have come back for seconds,’’ says Virmani. The object of these games is simple, says Virmani, the loser gets to glug a lot. And, naturally, the more intoxicated you get, the harder it gets for you to win. Check out roomstory.com for Shot Glass Chess, Drinking Snakes and Ladders, Drinking Ludo and other games that are all played with topped up shot glasses instead of counters.

Of course, you mustn’t neglect all the usual party accessories. Arrpit Maheshwari of wannaparty.in, an online party store, says that there’s no getting around party hats, shades and balloons.

Booseball drinking game

For Chandan Sharma of DholDhamaka.com, besides fun plastic ties, masks and wigs there’s regular party confetti like rose petal shooters (Rs 75), crazy ribbon spray (Rs 175) and snow spray (Rs 125).

“Golden, black and silver in terms of décor are the most popular colours for New Year’s Eve parties, while the reds and whites rule Christmas,” says Aditya Kapur of Party Hunterz, New Delhi.

Here are a few products that you can snap up to add zing to the proceedings. Psst: don’t forget to fill your shopping cart with spirits that you need for these props and games.

Cross & Knot

Ludo

The Cross & Knot drinking game includes 10 shot glasses (which you top up before commencing the game), half marked with Xs and the other half Os. Just like the classic version of tic-tac-toe, the aim of the game is to place three Xs or Os in a row. The twist is that the losing player (or players, if you are playing with team members for added fun) then has to drink three shots. The game will cost you Rs 2,079. Available at www.roomstory.com.

Booseball Drinking Game

Foosball, was immortalised in the popular American sitcom Friends. But this one takes the game to an all new level. For each goal scored, the opposite team has to drink a shot and a self-goal will penalise you with two shots! Booseball is available at all Party Hunterz stores (Calcutta, Delhi, Mumbai) or at www.partyhunterz.com for Rs 1,750.

Beer Lovers Party Pack

Shot glass suspenders; Pic by Rupinder Sharma

This one’s perfect for a six-person beer party and comes with six beer glasses with funny statements on each, six coasters and a fun bottle opener. Available at happilyunmarried.com or any Happily Unmarried store for Rs 1,500.

Ludo

An all-time favourite, it is even better when played tipsy. The game has 16 shot glasses in red, blue, green and yellow. When a player wins, the remaining players must get high on the remaining drinks in their colour. The game comes in a wooden box and costs Rs 3,742. (roomstory.com)

Shot Glass Suspenders

If you’d like to walk around with your booze and don’t want to part with it for even a minute, then this prop is perfect, irrespective of the outfit you’re decked up in. The suspender shot glasses cost Rs 599 and are available at wannaparty.in

Beer mug hat; Pic by Rupinder Sharma

Beer Mug Hat

This one’s a cute headgear and a must-have party hat for all those who love their beer. The beer hat is puffy and just the right size to fit your head. Rs 1,250, available at wannaparty.in.

Red beer hat

Red Beer Hat

This famous, red, dual beer drinking hard hat is great for those who want to party hard this NYE. By attaching two beer cans in the holders close to your ears, this one becomes a couch potato delight.

Simply attach two beer cans to the top of the hat. Insert the long flexible straws in each can and they lead straight to your parched mouth. Available at DholDhamaka.com for Rs 749.

LED Glasses

A party favourite, here are some shot glasses and beer mugs that glow in the dark from wannaparty.in. So, toast away to 2013. They cost Rs 250 for an LED cocktail glass, Rs 99 for a shot glass and Rs 350 for a beer mug.