We’ve all heard the saying, “Drinking is bad for you.” And yes, it’s true—alcohol can land people in trouble faster than they realize. But beyond the hangovers and regrets, drinking has also inspired some of the funniest and strangest stories you’ll ever hear. From oddball laws to animals who can’t handle their liquor, here are a few tales that prove what really happens when alcohol takes charge.
1. Too Drunk for the Bar
In Alaska, it’s technically illegal to be drunk inside a bar. By law, anyone already intoxicated isn’t supposed to step foot inside—or even stay in—the place that got them drunk in the first place. The U.K. has a similar law under its Licensing Act, which makes it an offence to knowingly serve alcohol to someone already drunk. In practice, these rules are almost never enforced—unless your night out turns into a public disturbance. Then the police will happily remind you of the fine print.
2. The Drunken Zebrafish Effect
Humans aren’t the only ones who make questionable leaders after a few drinks. Scientists found that when a single intoxicated zebrafish was dropped into a tank of sober companions, the sober fish started following the drunk one as if it were in charge. Apparently, charisma really does come in liquid form—even in the animal kingdom.
3. Smashed and Shopping
Alcohol and impulse control don’t mix well. A recent study found that drunk Americans collectively spend $30.4 billion a year on spur-of-the-moment online purchases. Whether it’s gadgets, late-night pizza orders, or something you forgot you even bought until it arrives two days later, your “Add to Cart” button is a lot more dangerous after a few beers.
4. The Prime Minister’s Drunken Election
Not all regrettable drunk decisions involve text messages or karaoke. In 1984, New Zealand’s Prime Minister got tipsy and spontaneously called a general election. The result? His party lost, and his career never recovered. Proof that sometimes the hangover lasts longer than the night.
5. Batman vs. Drunk Driver
During the filming of Batman Begins, Christian Bale witnessed something straight out of a comic book—except far less heroic. A drunk driver, convinced that the Batmobile was an alien spaceship, crashed right into it. The man admitted he panicked, thinking an invasion was underway. The Batmobile survived. The driver, sadly, didn’t gain any superpowers.
6. Stalin’s Drinking Games
Toward the end of his life, Joseph Stalin forced Soviet leaders to attend marathon drinking dinners. Refusal wasn’t an option. Guests had to play humiliating drinking games, like guessing the room’s temperature—with each wrong guess punished by another shot of vodka. It wasn’t about fun. It was about power. And for Stalin, control often came in the form of a raised glass.
7. Bees, Booze, and Hive Bouncers
Even bees sometimes can’t resist a drink. They’re known to seek out fermenting fruit and get tipsy in the process. But hives don’t tolerate drunken disorder. Bees that stumble back after boozy adventures are met by “bouncers” at the entrance. If they’re too drunk to fly straight, they’re barred until they sober up. Even in the insect world, no one likes a sloppy drunk.
Final Thoughts
From prime ministers and dictators to fish, bees, and even movie props, alcohol has a way of leaving chaos in its wake. Some stories are tragic, some are hilarious, and some are just plain bizarre. But all of them prove one thing: being drunk might make for a good story later—but it rarely makes for good decisions.