I don't know about you, but when I'm channel surfing and I see Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is on; my decision is made for me. No matter how many times I've seen each episode, I will always watch. The best part about SVU is that it's never just one episode, it's part of a marathon. And the USA Network has a SVU marathon every Tuesday, which I have now dubbed SVUesday. Don't have or watch cable? Worry not. Now you can make every day SVUesday by streaming seasons 13-16 on Netflix and the complete series on Hulu.
SVU is currently in its 17th season. Like most police procedural dramas, there are only so many phrases and story lines. Therefore, it makes for an extremely fun drinking game. Below is a long list of rules. Since the show is almost always shown in marathon form, I suggest you play with beer or mixed drinks because only taking shots will land you in a bus to
In Part 1, the rules below refer to seasons 1-12. In Part 2, additional rules will be added to incorporate seasons 13-17 (aka the post-Stabler years).
Law & Order: SVU Drinking Game Rules
Take a drink every time:
You hear the iconic “dun dun” sound
Benson pops a squat and says: “Hi, I’m Olivia, I’m a police officer.”
Stabler is asked: “Do you have any children, detective?”
Cragen says “One PP” and/or “In my office. Now!”
Munch makes a sarcastic remark, alludes to being Jewish (“my people”), his failed marriages and/or his conspiracy theories (finish your drink if his conspiracy theory turns out to be true)
Miranda Rights are read
Fin is confused by the perverted nature of the crime in spite of his years working with SVU and says something along the lines of “That’s messed up.”
Stabler uses excessive force
IAB walks into the squad room
Benson mentions she’s the product of rape
Stabler’s Catholicism is brought up
A celebrity guest star appears (finish your drink if you recognize a guest star because they’re way more famous now than they were when they shot that episode)
Stabler (or another detective) makes a “clever” one-liner right before the opening credits start
There is a foot chase
A doctor refuses to answer the detectives' questions due to doctor-patient confidentiality
A possible witness continues doing whatever menial task he/she is doing while being questioned by the detectives
Dr. Huang interviews a suspect
Any time Dr. Huang states the obvious ("He rapes because of his hatred of women”)
Fin says something offensive, politically incorrect, insulting, etc.
The A.D.A. is neither Cabot nor Casey
Someone lawyers up
The judge yells at the
A member of Stabler’s family shows up
A detective/officer yells: “Call a bus!” or “1013! 1013! Officer’s down!”
A detective threatens/alludes to what happens to kiddy diddlers in the joint
Sister Peg appears
The victim is found by joggers, children, dogs, garbage collectors, or either a couple fighting or hooking up
Warner points out the victim has ligature marks, petechial hemorrhaging, or says the COD was a subdural hematoma.
Cabot or Novak says “I can’t get a warrant for a fishing expedition.”
A detective goes undercover
The "ripped from the headlines" story line is completely obvious
Finish your drink every time:
The sexual tension between Benson and Cabot is palpable
Warner says something about the deceased that isn’t medically relevant and has to explain herself to the detectives (Example: They find an earring next to the body. Warner: “It’s an Angle. Very expensive…” *Detectives stare at her quizzically* “My sister’s a buyer at Saks.”)
A gun is fired/bomb goes off in either the precinct or courthouse
Cragen’s alcoholism is brought up
Whenever the cops are drinking, down your drink for solidarity
AND lastly:
Pour some out for the death of a recurring character
Take a shot anytime someone says “semen”
