What numbers are buzz?

Any number with a seven in it, and any number divisible by seven. Seven, fourteen and seventeen are all buzz.

What happens if you say the number instead of buzz?

You drink, and the count resets all the way back to one. Hesitating counts as a mistake too.

What is the fizz rule?

A house rule that stacks multiples of five as fizz on top of the buzz rule. With both live, most tables fall apart before twenty.

Do you need anything to play Buzz?

Nothing but people and drinks. There are no cards, cups or balls involved.

Buzz Drinking Game Rules: The Number Seven Is Banned

Name: How to Play Buzz
Uploaded: 2026-08-14T15:16:22Z
Duration: 42 s
Description: Buzz is counting out loud with the number seven banned. Any seven, any multiple of seven, you say buzz instead, and the table rarely makes it to twenty.

How to Play Buzz

Buzz is counting out loud with the number seven banned. Any seven, any multiple of seven, you say buzz instead, and the table rarely makes it to twenty.

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What You'll Need

Three or more players in a circle
Drinks in front of everyone
No equipment whatsoever

Setup

Sit or stand in a circle and agree on a direction. That is the whole setup. Buzz needs nothing on the table, so it works at a bar, in a car park, or halfway through another game.

How to Play

Count Up

Go around the circle counting up. One, two, three, as fast as you can. Speed is part of the game, not a bonus.

The Banned Number

Any number with a seven in it, or any number divisible by seven, you say buzz instead of the number. Seven is buzz. Fourteen is buzz. Seventeen is also buzz. Both rules are live at once, which is exactly where people come unstuck.

Slipping Up

Say the forbidden number out loud, or even hesitate, and you drink. The count resets all the way back to one.

The Twist

House rules stack multiples of five as fizz on top of the buzz rule. With both running, the table falls apart before anyone hits twenty.

Winning

There is no winner, only a high-water mark. Whatever number the table reached before the last reset is the score to beat.

Tips and Strategy

Work out your own number early. Count ahead in the circle to see what is coming to you rather than reacting when it lands.
Remember it is both rules, not one. Seventeen has a seven in it. Twenty-one is divisible by seven. Most drinks come from forgetting the second rule.
Do not slow down to be safe. Hesitating counts as a mistake, so playing cautiously is not actually safer.
Add fizz only once the table is comfortable. Both rules from the start and nobody gets past ten.

Make It a Party Night

Buzz needs no equipment at all, which makes it the best game on this list for a table with nothing on it. More printable rules, scorecards and dare decks are in the Party Pack, and the free Party Starter Pack gets you going tonight.

Variations

Buzz and Fizz Together

Sevens are buzz, fives are fizz. A number that is both, like thirty-five, needs both words in order.

Reverse on Buzz

Every buzz turns the direction of the count around the circle. It sounds small and it wrecks people.

This game involves alcohol. Please drink responsibly. Intended for adults 21 and older in the United States.

BUZZ FAQ

What numbers are buzz?: Any number with a seven in it, and any number divisible by seven. Seven, fourteen and seventeen are all buzz.
What happens if you say the number instead of buzz?: You drink, and the count resets all the way back to one. Hesitating counts as a mistake too.
What is the fizz rule?: A house rule that stacks multiples of five as fizz on top of the buzz rule. With both live, most tables fall apart before twenty.
Do you need anything to play Buzz?: Nothing but people and drinks. There are no cards, cups or balls involved.

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