The Unofficial House Rules For
Operation
DRINKING RULES & PENALTIESReady to ruin the game?
Full List of House Rules
EncyclopediaUpdated: January 2026
The ultimate collection of adult house rules and drinking penalties for Operation. We’ve curated the best ways to fix boring gameplay using mechanics from the world’s rudest card game.
- Malpractice
- Buzzer goes off? Drink.
- Anesthesia
- Successful surgery? Prescribe a drink to another.
- The Tremors
- Spin 3 times before operating.
- Double Bill
- Remove 'Bread Basket'? Assign 2 drinks.
- Code Blue
- If buzzer goes off twice on same piece, finish drink.
- Specialist
- If you fail and Specialist succeeds, you take a shot.
- Rubber Band
- Snap the rubber band? Everyone drinks.
- Time Limit
- Take too long (1 min)? Drink.
- Steady Hands
- Drink with non-dominant hand while operating with dominant.
- License Revoked
- Lose the game? Wear the 'Cone of Shame' (or funny hat).
How To Play
- Setup: Arrange the game of Operation as normal.
- Inject: Press the "Spice It Up" button whenever the game gets boring or someone takes a turn.
- Obey: Perform the rule or drink the penalty.
- Repeat: Continue until there is a clear winner or everyone forgets the rules.
FAQ
What are the best drinking rules for Operation?
Common rules include: "Malpractice" and "Anesthesia". Check the full list above for more chaos.
Is this official?
No. This is an unofficial add-on to make Operation more adult-oriented.