“Night Capping”, or also known as “The Night Cap” is a rule that must be implemented to your beer drinking repertoire.
It’s a Thursday night, it has been a long day doing whatever activity makes you tired, and so you phone the usual suspects to convene at the normal scene of the crime. This is usually a pub with a comfortable atmosphere, great staff and most importantly a fantastic beer selection.
Knowing that tomorrow is a Friday, which in most circumstances could be considered a weekend, is the perfect time to break out the “Night Cap” rule. Do not pre-meditate the night cap rule, it's not meant to be given away, it is like bluffing with a 2 or 3 in a poker game, the straight face approach is a must.
Most members of the group have already established in their minds that they will stay for only 1 or 2 pints. Whether the excuse is work tomorrow, tucking in the girlfriend, short on cash or my personal favourite, I have drank too much this week, they will most certainly depart after those two pints.
When round 1 is ordered from the server, make sure to keep a steady pace ahead of your beer opponents, falling behind could seriously hinder the chances at a “Night Cap”. Now at this point, it is imperative to ally yourself with one of your buddies, a like-minded beer individual, preferably unemployed, but not necessary, just find someone.
Round 1 is finished, it is noticed that a couple of your compadres are glancing at their watch, but it is only 9:00pm, the crowd is just starting to filter in. The server comes to check on your party, everyone agrees to one more round, a few are a little more hesitant; especially the former party buddy, tamed like a circus lion by the new flame in his life.
Keeping a steady pace is even more significant in Round 2, this is where the build up to the “Night Cap” becomes vital. Observing some of the group aggressively checking their watches as their pints approach a near end, a simple glance to get the servers attention may be necessary.
The server advances, when they get to the table you point at everyone and yell “Night Cap”. What exactly does this do? The “Night Cap” is a signal for one last beer before leaving, after explaining these important rules, everyone at the table is obliged to order one more beer. Every person at the table is permitted to institute one “Night Cap” per night, so if there are 6 people, then a potential 6 “Night Caps” could be in the future.
“Night Caps” do not carry over to prospective hangouts, so they must be used in the completely natural surroundings of the pub. After all the hums and haws, the third round has been distributed, laughs ensue, noticing the group justifying one more hour. This is where the ally comes in to play, as the beers near there end, it is not important to maintain a lead in this round, but ensure the ally is in ready position to pounce on the situation and create another “Night Cap” scenario.
The server arrives, the ally aggressively bellows “Night Cap”, WHAT!!!, that’s right, the card has been played, buck up for another round. At this point, the group has realized a taxi is in their near future, so they have loosened up, the watches tucked nicely in their sleeves where they belong.
Discussion flowing as smoothly as the beer is going down, the drinks are almost finished, the server passes by, understanding the game now, waits to hear a “Night Cap”. This is where the “Wild Card”, comes in to play. As the silence, awkward looks and anticipation resonates, a sound cuts the silence with a “Night Cap”, WAIT! it is the classic “Wild Card” request. The “Wild Card” is that one friend who was quite all night, but after a few beers has loosened up and surprisingly committed the group to another “Night Cap”. Before anyone can decide, the savvy server takes the slight nods and blank looks as total agreement.
A hangout, which normally anticipated a few beers, has just turned into a harmless evening of “Night Capping”, realizing there will be no more “Night Caps”, the final rule comes into play. This rule is referred to as “Bathroom Etiquette”. While drinking their final beer, if a member of the group decides to go to the bathroom with a sip left in their cup, this is a tough penalty “Bathroom Etiquette” can be instituted.
In that case, a vacant seat with a sip left is an open invitation to purchase a round for the both of you. This rule cannot be played if the person finishes their beer then heads to the bathroom, but in the case the rule is played, the purchase of the round is on the caller, who could buy for the table, or just for the person who just got educated in “Bathroom Etiquette”.
Imagine the surprise, a quick visit to the bathroom and BOOM, a beer is placed on the table in front of you, this ensures another drink. Be careful though, if this last second rule is executed to an individual that has not yet used the “Night Cap”, they could deviously institute their “Night Cap”.
“Night Capping” works well in groups of 6 and under, anything over 6 could get messy fast, perhaps save that for the weekend. Creating an understanding of “Night Capping” amongst your group of friends is an amusing way to keep the peeps out, so please utilize the “Night Cap” in a safe, pleasurable and entertaining way.
If there are any problems in convincing the friends about “Night Capping”, please refer them to the blog for further clarity.
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