Beer is the cornerstone of society. In ancient England, people would place their settlements where the best hops grew. And of course, it’s the same all over Europe. And now, beer has been fine-tuned to something approaching real science – and that’s what we learned when we attended the World Draughtmasters Event when we were taught how to pour the perfect pint by Marc Stroobandt.

But unfortunately, we can’t just spend all our time in bars. There are times when we have to work, look after children or something. And sometimes you have to write lists about people drinking in bars.

But, of course, the second best thing apart from enjoying a nice alcoholic beverage  is watching other people doing it. Well, actually, it’s not at all. It’s actually quite annoying, but for the purposes of this list, bear with us.

In movies, we love to see people cosying up with a nice snifter and saying funny things. But which are the finest movies about beer? Let’s take a look. Chin chin!

16. Barfly

Forget The Wrestler, this is Mickey Rourke’s finest hour.

15. Swingers

Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughan enjoy a responsible tipple in this cult classic.

14. The Hangover

A surprisingly good film about a stag night that goes horribly wrong.

13. The Big Lebowski

Would have been higher, but not strictly a movie about beer. However, there’s an awful lot of White Russians featured.

12. Days of Wine and Roses

Jack Lemmon in top form.

11. My Favourite Year

Best line: After stumbling into the wrong toilet, a lady tells him: “This is for ladies only!”

To which Alan Swann, unzipping his fly, replies: “So is *this*, ma’am, but every now and then I have to run a little water through it.”

10. Harvey

An advertisement for when you overdo it. No-one wants to consume so much the end up seeing a huge rabbit… do they?

9. Weird Science

The scene in which he is in the nightclub is the best scene in the movie.

8. The Lost Weekend

A superb movie – a lost classic.

7. Sideways

Who would have thought wine-tasting was so much fun?

6. Arthur

It’s how I would spend my time if I was a millionaire – apart from maybe the Liza Minelli bit.

5. The Legend of Drunken Master

Jackie Chan’s finest hour – and a bit.

4. Leaving Las Vegas

Nic Cage proves he can actually act.

3. Withnail & I

Richard E Grant gives one of the finest comedic performances of all time.

2. Old School

Where there is a Will, there is a way.

1. National Lampoon’s Animal House

The second most quotable movie of all time behind Withnail and I.

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Some films are just better when you’re drunk.

You know the kind of movies we’re talking about – they are the ones you love to put in your DVD player after a good night on the tiles while finishing off a nice bottle of whisky.

They are almost as much a part of getting drunk as vomiting in next door’s garden and trying to pull that really sexy girl that’s way out of your league. It’s not that they are bad. No way. In fact, some of the film on this list are in hecklerspray’s private collection (no, not that collection). But whether it’s the dumb jokes or the drunken antics, they just seem to fit your mood perfectly.

So, get your bottles ready, here goes. Cheers!

10. Kingpin (1996)

There has never been a funnier film about the Amish and bowling. Come to think of it, we think it’s the only one. We don’t think Harrison Ford did any bowling in The Witness. Anyway, it’s absolutely hilarious, plus it has Bill Murray in it.

9. Dumb and Dumber (1994)

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea – or pee for that matter – but after a quite a few beers you won’t even care.

8. There’s Something about Mary (1998)

The hair gel gag makes this worth watching alone. Although there are enough disgusting jokes to keep you giggling into your whisky glass into the wee small hours.

7. Animal House (1978)

The classic zit scene involving John Belushi alone makes this 1978 film about a college fraternity fighting the system an absolute must. Toga, toga, toga!

6. The Waterboy (1998)

Forget Happy Gilmore and The Wedding Singer, this film about a dim-witted waterboy from Louisiana who discovers he has a unique talent for American football is the funniest Adam Sandler film of all. If you can’t laugh at this while drunk you must be dead, or asleep.

5. American Pie (1999)

This teen comedy has all the essential elements of a great college party. Well, there’s a lot of teenage sex, lots of drinking and, um, someone tries to have sex with an apple pie. That didn’t happen at your parties? Losers!

4. South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut (1999)

To be honest, we just wanted an excuse to put a clip of Cartman in. Very funny.

3. Office Space (1999)

Let’s face it, a lot of us moan about our jobs when we’re drunk. We just can’t help it. Well, why bother when the hilarious Office Space will do all the hard work for you. Leaving you to sit back and chuckle and one of the funniest films ever made. It’s about a disenchanted office worker who simply decides to stop going to work one day – and to a large extent gets away with it. Now we all dream of that.

2. Clerks (1994)

The Star Wars line makes this movie worth watching on its own. But there is something particularly offensive about this film that appeals to our drunken sensibilities. We think it’s mainly because the two main characters – convenience store clerks Dante and Randal – spend the whole time just talking shit. Throw in a few visual gags to keep the belly laughs going and you can see why it’s the perfect drinking buddy.

1. Withnail and I (1987)

This is not only a film to watch when you are drunk, it a film that will inspire you to get drunk. No, it’s not that bad. In fact, it’s just simply brilliant and possibly the most quotable movies you will ever see. For those of you who have not had the pleasure yet, it’s about two British actors struggling to get work in the late 60s. I wish there was more to tell you, but that really is it. Oh, that and the fact that they spend the entire films getting shitfaced. There is even a drinking game in its honour, in which you try and match everything they drink. However, many do not attempt the lighter fluid (yes, that really is drunk in the film).