The Edward 40 Hands challenge is a social drinking game where participants tape two 40-ounce bottles of an alcoholic beverage, typically malt liquor, to their hands using duct tape. The rules dictate that the bottles cannot be removed until the entire 80 ounces have been consumed. The name alludes to the fictional character Edward Scissorhands, highlighting the forced constraint. This viral challenge is extremely hazardous due to its high-volume, forced consumption structure, posing a severe risk of acute alcohol poisoning and physical danger.
How the Challenge Accelerates Intoxication
The danger of the Edward 40 Hands challenge stems from the combination of total volume, high alcohol concentration, and forced consumption rate. Participants must drink 80 ounces of malt liquor, which typically ranges from 6% to 8% Alcohol By Volume (ABV)—higher than standard beer. Since the player is functionally disabled until the bottles are empty, this forced pace leads to a rapid spike in Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).
The liver metabolizes alcohol at a relatively fixed rate, processing about one standard drink per hour (roughly 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol). The 80 ounces of malt liquor can contain the equivalent of 10 to 15 standard drinks. Because the consumption rate is much faster than the liver’s metabolic rate, alcohol quickly accumulates in the bloodstream. This rapid accumulation is known as binge drinking and is the primary driver of alcohol poisoning.
Immediate Health Risks of Rapid Alcohol Consumption
The most significant danger is acute alcohol poisoning, which occurs when a dangerously high BAC shuts down involuntary life-support functions. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, and excessive amounts suppress the nerves controlling breathing, heart rate, and body temperature. Even after drinking stops, the BAC can continue to rise for 30 to 40 minutes as alcohol is absorbed, meaning symptoms can worsen rapidly.
Symptoms of severe intoxication and poisoning include mental confusion, stupor, and an inability to be awakened. Physical signs can progress rapidly:
- Vomiting or seizures.
- Slow or irregular breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute).
- Significant drop in body temperature (hypothermia).
- Skin appearing bluish, gray, or pale.
Alcohol also impairs the gag reflex. When combined with vomiting, this greatly increases the risk of choking or aspirating vomit into the lungs, which can be fatal.
Physical Constraints and Environmental Dangers
Taping large bottles to both hands creates a unique physical hazard that compounds severe intoxication. With their hands incapacitated, participants lose the ability to break a fall or catch themselves if their balance is impaired. This increases the likelihood of serious injuries, such as concussions, broken bones, or head trauma from falls onto hard surfaces or down stairs.
The inability to use one’s hands also removes the ability to perform basic protective actions in an emergency. For example, if a person begins to vomit, they cannot easily turn onto their side to prevent aspiration. Furthermore, the extreme intoxication severely impairs judgment, which may lead to risky decisions or movement into hazardous environments, such as near traffic or water.
Recognizing and Responding to an Emergency
If someone shows signs of severe intoxication during the challenge, immediate intervention is necessary. Do not assume the person will “sleep off” the effects, as their BAC can still be rising to lethal levels. If the person is unresponsive, has slow breathing, or exhibits severe symptoms like seizures or bluish skin, emergency medical services must be contacted immediately.
While waiting for help, prevent the person from choking on vomit. If unconscious, gently roll them onto their side into the recovery position. Stay with them constantly to monitor breathing and ensure they do not roll onto their back. Provide emergency responders with information, including the type and amount of alcohol consumed.